It is a world-class venue on which once the American and Australian swimming teams trained for the Olympics.
It is a pool where Singapore’s only Olympic gold medallist Joseph Schooling had countless dips both before and after the Rio Games in 2016.
In fact, the 29-year-old affable Schooling, an honorary member at the club, took his first plunge in the pool when he was only three years old.
For 26 young swimmers, the TMCC Swim & Kick Meet on March 23 at the Garden Swimming Complex, it was an event they would want to savour. And certainly remember, with pictures and files.
The event was to put the swimmers through a routine to test their mettle and gear them up for the competitions throughout the year.
To ensure fair racing opportunities for our young swimmers, participants were grouped into various age categories (5–6 years, 7–8 years, 9–10 years, 11–12 years, and 13–14 years). Events included 25M Butterfly and Breaststroke (Boys 11–12 years), 25M Butterfly and Breaststroke (Boys 13–14 years), 25M Freestyle Kick (Boys 6 years and under), 25M Freestyle (Boys 5–6 years), and 25M Backstroke (Girls 7–8 years).
One of the standout moments of the meet was the rare occurrence of a tie for the gold medal, as both swimmers touched the wall simultaneously. Even the deck officials could not separate the finish. Ting Jian Ye Elijah and Augustus Yap Shiyi both posted an identical time of 01:10.00 in the 50M Freestyle (Boys 7–8 years) event, earning them joint top podium honours.
Capping off an exhilarating day at the pool, TMCC Swimming Programme Senior Coach, Mr Yang Bin, proudly presented medals to the top three finishers in each event. All participants received a Certificate of Participation, while select swimmers were recognised with Best Effort Awards for their impressive displays of endurance and determination throughout the meet.
The event was filled with beaming smiles from swimmers, their parents, and enthusiastic family supporters. It was truly heartening to witness Members introducing the next generation to the joys of swimming and the thrill of friendly competition in a vibrant and supportive environment.
Congratulations to all the winners on their remarkable performances, and a big well done to every participant for showcasing true sportsmanship and giving their all in the pool.
