New Kid on the Block

Youngest out of the 3, 16-year-old Shayne Tan is making her SEA Games debut later this December, what is to be her first high-calibre competition. When asked on how she reacted to the news of her qualifying, she said:

"I managed to hit the score in Singapore Open. I was really happy. While some of my friends were injured, despite that they still came down to watch me. Once the score flashed, I just ran up to them and hugged them. I was really happy that my family was around too."

In terms of the short-term goals, she is targeting a medal for her favourite apparatus Beam, which she has been working on for the past year.

When asked who is her sporting hero, Shayne looks up to Eliud Kipchoge, the Kenyan runner who recently created history by completing a full marathon in under 2 hours.

“He has been running for awhile now and he is constantly smashing the records and he doesn’t look like’s slowing down anytime soon. That is just inspiring to me.”

Just like the runner himself, it doesn’t seem like Shayne will be slowing down anytime soon either.

“As a gymnast I hope to represent SG in more prestigious games like Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and the ultimate goal is the Olympics.”

No Stranger to SEA Games

Set to appear in her 3rd SEA Games, 20-year old Nadine Joy Nathan is out to impress. 

“I was a different person from the last two SEA games 2015 & 2017 however, my aim has not changed. I just want to put out clean and good difficulty level routines.”

Having gone through an ankle injury at the start out of the year which disrupted her training, she wasn’t sure if she could have made it onto the team bound for SEA Games 2019 but all doubts were cleared after she was told that her score from 2018 that was good enough for her to qualify.

Nadine takes huge pride in representing our nation.

“I don’t think that the feeling of pride of representing Singapore diminishes with any competition. It’s another feeling altogether. I can’t put this feeling into words. When you’ve done a great routine, you make yourself proud, then you’ve made your family and friends proud and you know you’ve made your country proud it truly is the best feeling in the world.”

She has also revealed some of her post gymnastics plans.

“In terms of gymnastics, I really want to give back to the sport by the time I give up the sport. I’m taking a degree in psychology right now so hopefully with that knowledge I can help the next generation of gymnasts. Gymnastics takes a lot of mental strength so hopefully I can do my part to help them.”

When asked on what is the first thing she is going to do after the arriving back in Singapore after the SEA Games, is to have a cup of Bubble Tea.

A true blue Singaporean indeed!

Her first SEA Games

As Sze En is currently training in the states, we'll share her thoughts once it has been all lined up but for now, we have a very brief excerpt from an interview she did with the Straits Times previously.

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ST: You'll be competing at the SEA Games this year too. What do you hope to achieve in the Philippines? Are you confident of being able to do so and why?

S: "As stated above, my goal at every competition is always to do my best, enjoy the process and compete safely. Additionally, for the SEA Games, I hope to medal."

ST: You missed out on the previous SEA Games because of an ankle injury. Could you share a bit about what that was like for you? Is that also a source of motivation for you at the upcoming SEA Games?

S: "I was devastated to miss out on the previous SEA Games. It was a huge blow to me, especially since it happened just a few days before we were supposed to leave for KL. This SEA Games will be my first and I’m really hoping to make a successful debut in the Philippines."