Sports has always been something that I hold dearly to. I was trained in Singapore Sports School as a track and field sprinter. At the age of 17, I represented Singapore in the SEA Games and the Olympics when I was 18. 

Yet, behind the public recognition and achievements was a journey that many did not know.

The early stage of being an athlete is always about comparing with another person or climbing the ladder to be the top. It was just an unending chase after achievements, striving to be seen and to be heard. 

That was me as a young athlete. I was 15 and I was doing very well that year. I qualified for the World Youth Championships and it was the first time I excelled in the sport.

However, in that same year, I was injured not once, not twice – but three times. I sprained my hamstring, adductor and back, one after another. 

For that reason, I was out of training for nine months. For a sport that requires consistent training to maintain stamina, nine months were way too long. 

Strength in weakness

I was devastated. I did my best… and then I was out. And there was no sign of me getting better. In a moment, I had lost everything. I wanted to give up and quit.

For the next nine months, I did not run at all and I simply focused on my recovery.

When I got back to sports the following year, I broke a record with 11 seconds! From then, I had my best years (16-18) when it came to progressing in the sport.

Thinking back, had I not had the injury, I would not have spent as much time to build my foundation during the recovery. If things had not happened that way, I would not have hit the record.

Indeed, God works in ways that we cannot see. As long as we trust Him, we will see God’s hands in our lives.

Looking back through the years, I realised that every time that I achieved a personal best – I was not in peak condition.

There was a time when I secured second place even though I was sick, which is impossible by my ability alone.

Through all these little moments, God showed me that it was all planned in His time, for His purposes.

Running the race of life

Born into a Christian family, I am a second-generation believer.

In my teenage years, I came across a book written by Rick Warren called The Purpose Driven Life. So, I knew that my purpose is to be excellent and a good role model to others. 

When it comes to the question “Win for what?”, I believe we’re meant to live out the purpose that God has given us. 

In doing the best with the cards you are dealt, we learn to give God the glory no matter the outcome. That applies to everything else in life, not just sports. 

A new season of exploration

After spending more than a decade on the national team, I felt that it was time to enter a different season. And so, I pivoted out of sports and started a secular job.

It was scary initially because I only knew about sports my entire life. I studied Sports Science in university, I graduated with sports and everything I learned was about sports. 

However, I wanted to know more about the world, so I aligned myself to focus on what was next. Now, I am working in sales under a technology company and I hold a real estate licence as well. 

Having retired from the sport for seven years now, I believe that the values I have taken away from my years as a sportsman still stay with me: not to be self-seeking, to pursue excellence and to let my actions speak louder. 

Moving on, I just want to continue to be devoted to God. When He brings us through a season, there is always a principle to learn, so let’s remain faithful!

Ultimately, everything that we do is done unto an audience of one.