Cover Stephenie Chen will make her first Olympics showing at the Paris 2024 Olympics
Stephenie Chen will make her first Olympics showing at the Paris 2024 Olympics
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Competing in various sports from kitefoiling to fencing, equestrian and rowing, seven athletes, who are among those representing Singapore at the Paris 2024 Olympics, share what it means to perform at the top of their game. Singapore kayaker Stephenie Chen shares her hopes for her first Olympics showing
Stephenie Chen’s kayaking journey began at a young age. Encouraged by her eldest sister, who was already in the sport, she took the plunge before entering junior college. “I was really bad at it when I started, but I had fun doing something with my sisters and it stuck,” she reminisces. Her determination and dedication resulted in her dominating national competitions, where she quickly climbed the ranks as a standout athlete in Singapore’s kayaking community.
From clinching gold at the Southeast Asian (Sea) Games to her impressive performances in the Asian Championships, each competition brought her a step closer to representing Singapore at the highest level. “I find that consistency works best for me, as long as I train [the way] I plan to race, I will be able to replicate what I need to do for my races,” Chen reflects.
Indeed, like any elite athlete, the 32-year-old has faced her share of obstacles. Injuries were a constant threat, and the mental strain of high-level competition was relentless.
Read more: Paris Olympics 2024: Meet the 19 Singaporean athletes who will be competing this year
Above Chen has ramped up
her training for
the Olympics
Chen has ramped up her training for the Olympics
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In 2021, she narrowly missed out on a spot at the Tokyo Olympics by less than a second during the qualifiers. However, the five-time Sea Games champion was not deterred and pushed through with hard work and doggedness. Her training and strategic planning paid off as she tackled the next qualifiers with precision and determination. Chen secured her spot at the Paris Olympics by coming in third at the Asian Canoe Sprint & ACC Paracanoe Asian Championships, thus ending Singapore’s 12-year absence in the sport. “Being from a small nation in both size and representation, I feel honoured to be part of the team and it’s exciting to be part of a select few,” she muses.
Securing a coveted spot in the Olympics is no easy feat. The qualification process for kayaking involves a series of intense competitions, each more challenging than the last. Navigating the rigorous demands of training and maintaining mental resilience is another balancing act. “Being constantly ‘on’ is not exactly feasible in such a physically demanding sport,” Chen shares. “I feel that the key to being switched on at the right time [in racing] is to take breaks when you need to, but also knowing your limits and challenging them. I also let myself cry when I need to, knowing that it’s part and parcel of relieving my stress.”
Above Chen
is a five-time Sea
Games champion
Chen is a five-time Sea Games champion
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With her eyes set on a favourable performance at the Games, Chen’s training has intensified. “As an outdoor sport, we have little control of what the conditions present. I haven’t had the opportunity to paddle on the upcoming course but I’ve heard that it can get pretty choppy,” she shares. But with a clear goal in mind, Chen is shooting for consistency and stability. “My focus has always been to build a stable base in which I can excel, no matter the conditions. That will be what I aim to do better in these last few weeks of preparation, it will be my best tactic for a good performance.”
Her qualification is a monumental achievement for the sporting community in Singapore and shines a spotlight on less mainstream sports like kayaking. “Training overseas has allowed me to see first-hand what it takes to be the world’s best, and I’m hoping that what I can do at the Games will showcase my capabilities.”
Credits
Images: Shaun Ho
Sabrina Low was the former assistant digital editor for Tatler Singapore.
