COACHING SINCE 2005 - 10 years coaching experience

MENS COMPETITIVE COACH

GWM PROGRAM - TANGLIN TRUST SCHOOL

How did you first get involved in gymnastics?
I come from a background of gymnastics – my mum did gymnastics in her younger years, as did my older brother. I started recreationally at age seven and subsequently found myself in a boys competitive team in a private gymnastics club at around age nine. I eventually joined the Singapore National Team at age 15 when the held an opening trials for it. Ever since then, I’ve been competing actively in whatever big competitions are available locally and overseas. I’ve been with the national team for the past 12 years and will be retiring from competitive gymnastics in July 2015 after the World University Games 2015 Gwangju, Korea.

What do you love about being a coach?
It’s a cliché but it’s true – I am passionate about it. The boys that I teach empower me to keep going because of their hunger and willingness to develop themselves. Every kid has a different way of learning, and it requires a good coach to constantly come up with ideas and methods to teach in a way that is easy for every kid to understand. The boys I’ve taught over the last few years have grown to become not only stronger physically, but also as more matured individuals. There’s a sense of fulfilment when I see the positive impact that the kids experience, which I believe will go with them a long way.

Tell us about your proudest moment as a coach
My proudest moment isn’t the time when the boys have gone up on the podium to receive awards, but rather the satisfaction and the joy that the kids experience when they finally grasp a new skill after struggling at it for weeks, in some cases, months.

Why do you think children should join gymnastics?
The benefits of gymnastics are innumerable. It is a well-rounded sport that requires the use of every single muscle group in the body; this greatly improves the psychomotor skills and functionality of the body. Moreover, gymnastics strengthens the mind as they continue to grow in the sport. The benefits of gymnastics are often not tangible – putting aside the winning of medals, it simply builds character. There is always something new to learn.