BECOMING a fashion designer is the life long dream
for swimmer Siow Yi Ting.
But for now, she is focusing on the Olympics, her third, where she hopes to shine.
Her dream to excel in swimming saw her leave for the United States in 2001 at age 16, to train under one of the best high school swimming programmes at The Bolles School, Florida.
It was difficult at first to adapt to the culture, weather and the tough training regime, under coach Jeff Poppell.
“I wasn’t used to the cold when I first arrived in the States. Even though it doesn’t snow in Florida, it still gets cold in the winter,” she said.
“Then I had to train outdoors. I hated training outdoors during winter. The training was so much tougher.” Fortunately for Yi Ting, Bolles served as a stepping stone for her in making a name in the US. “The experience in Bolles really helped me in my transition.” Yi Ting managed to make a name in the school and upon graduating, she joined the University of Wisconsin where she was the first international student to represent its swimming team at state-level university events.
“The training conditions were much better as the university had an indoor pool,” she said.
In 2005, she earned five ‘Big Ten Swimmer of the Week’ awards for making waves in these competitions, enough to earn her way to compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).
Two years ago, she switched to the University of Arkansas, where she was reunited with her high school coach Poppell.
Yi Ting described the training in the US as tough but comprehensive. “Special attention is given to speed,” said the third-year Arts student.
“Coaches expect their swimmers to swim fast regardless the distance of their respective events. That’s why swimmers train in short-course pools to improve on coordination and speed.” On what she had learnt from her two previous Olympic outings (Sydney 2000, Athens 2004), she said the experience has taught her to stay relaxed for the Beijing Games.
“I put myself under too much pressure in the previous outings and I failed to do well. As for the Beijing Games, I’m treating it like any other meet. I have my own expectations but I’m not thinking about them right now, as my attention is on improving my times.” Her personal best in the 200m breaststroke of 2:32.15s was achieved in the Omaha Swim Invitational in May, which ranks her 108th in the world but 12 seconds slower than world record holder and Beijing Olympic Games favourite Leisel Jones of Australia.
“I will need to improve on my timing by at least seven seconds in the heats to have any chance of progressing.
It’s impossible and I can only dream of improving on my personal best.” she said.
In the 200m individual medley, her personal best of 2:16.69s will also not put her in the final.
She will be up against swimmers like World No 1 Stephanie Rice of Australia, who swam the season best at 2:08.92s, 2004 Athens Olympics double gold medallist Natalie Coughlin (2:09.77s), and reigning world champion Katie Hoff (2:10.23s).
Yi Ting will have to shed about five seconds off her personal best to make the semi-finals.
New Straits Times
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