Singapore’s First Olympic Swimmer Proves the Doubters Wrong in Tokyo
Chantal Liew isn’t just a swimmer; she’s a symbol of perseverance, a tropical‑water hero who has turned skeptics into believers. On the morning of August 4th, she finished the 10‑km Olympic marathon at Odaiba Marine Park, following her team‑Singapore jacket slung over her shoulders and her wetsuit still wet.
Results that spark a quiet victory
- 23rd place out of 25 competitors
- Time: 2 h 8 m 17.9 s
- Historic first: Singapore’s inaugural participant in the Olympic marathon swim
- Gold winner: Ana Marcela Cunha (Brazil) 1 h 59 m 30.8 s
- Silver: Sharon van Rouwendaal (Netherlands) 1 h 59 m 31.7 s
- Bronze: Kareena Lee (Australia) 1 h 59 m 32.5 s
Despite the tough contest, the crowd still applauded Liew’s determination. A quick interview before the ceremony revealed her genuine pride, fiercely declared that the critics were silenced.
A cheeky chat with the media
She turned to the media liaison beside her, asked playfully, “Can I say it?” The liaison nodded – and that’s when the “kiss my a*” line followed, punctuated with laughter that quickly faded into a trembling voice of emotion.
“I hope it shuts down the armchair critics in Singapore,” she said, bathing in the hum of over‑whelming cheers, while her coach Marcus Cheah laid a comforting hand on her back.
Train hard, dream big.
Liew, who will be 23 this coming Monday, must have done a marathon of a life. Balancing National University of Singapore studies, internships, and rigorous training to unlock Tokyo, she scheduled sweat‑filled bouts in 35 °C water at 90 % humidity – a testament to her rigorous preparation.
Her journey is peppered with triumphs: silver at the 2017 SEA Games, 2 h 21 m 30 s at Kuala Lumpur, and a 2 h 12 m 20 s in Portugal’s Olympic Marathon Swim Qualifiers – achievements that make her 2020 Olympic finish a spectacular win for her & Cheah.
Retirement flickers
Some people expected her to retire after Tokyo. Cheah convinced her of the depth of her talent – out of a field that skewed 29–30 ↔ she was just 22. Liew, however, keeps the doors open: “I’m thinking about it, but I need a break before finalizing.” She reflected, “I couldn’t have ended it on a better note.”
More than a swim, Liew’s story is a reminder that sweat, grit, and belief can drown even the strongest doubters.
Source: The Straits Times – “Permission required for reproduction.”
