Kevin counting on grit to win battle

YOU surely can’t go on singing Rod Stewart’s I Am Sailing when the winds
of support and money stop blowing your sail home.

But this doctor sailor is made up of sturdier stuff than the pirates of the Caribbean.

He paddled, and then waded and finally swam alongside his boat until the Beijing Olympics ticket was justly handed to him.

Kevin Lim is no stranger to the Olympics, but it is a pity that he had to fight his way as his qualification in the Laser class was challenged by the Malaysian Yachting Association (MYA).

Kevin, 32, qualified through the World Laser Championships in Australia in February, where the MYA did not see it fit to send any of its sailors.

But he triumphed in his appeal, and is now looking forward to blue skies and choppy seas again.

When asked about his chances: “Much poorer than if I had been funded to campaign throughout 2007.” And even though he had numerous problems with funding, he is realistic about the RM1 million incentive dangled by the government for a gold in Beijing.

“I feel this (RM1 million) is a great outcome goal but outcome goals are only good if the process goals have been given sufficient investment as well.

“Personally, I would rather the RM1 million be invested into the Olympic campaign to give the athletes a chance at winning a gold medal in the first place.

“Once you have good results in most sports (and combined with a good personality and some decent planning for the future), it is possible to secure employment that will set you up for life anyway,” said the good doctor.

And on his training regime? “It is strict. 07.30 wake up; 08.30 morning training session; 10.30 post training meal; 11.00 paper work/studying/ lunch.

“14.00 afternoon training session; 19.00 post training meal; 20.00 flexi time and 22.30 sleep.” He has it meticulously planned, but funding was his major set-back and he could not train as much as he wanted in 2007.

And what does he thinks is the future for a sport which he has given much of his life to? “The future of Malaysian sailing will be good if the funding and sponsorship dollars are used to expose the many talented sailors to regattas in Europe and Australia.

“There is little value in building more training centres locally and buying hundreds of new boats to fill them because high level competition and ideal racing conditions do not exist locally.

“For the benefit of the sailors, we need to take the road less traveled and venture overseas to learn from the leaders in the field.” And his message to future Olympic sailors? “Train hard, study smart and drink a lot of Milo.” And only then can you continue singing Rod Stewart’s classic, with a husky tone.

NST