Ex-policeman in LKY's protection detail now teaches young kids to swim

He set up swim school to help them develop leadership traits like confidence and resilience

- Sue-Ann Tan Business Correspondent

After serving in the police force for 20 years, including 11 years as part of the protection detail for Mr Lee Kuan Yew when he was senior minister, Mr Athanasius Pang is now teaching swimming to children as young as three months old.

These career choices seem to be worlds apart, but Mr Pang, 50, says he finds similarities in how both give him a sense of purpose.

“It’s the same foundation: building credibility, creating systems, and crafting impact. Now, instead of protecting lives with force, I’m shaping them with water,” he said.

In 2021, inspired by his own experiences teaching his youngest child to swim, Mr Pang founded Dip Swim to teach children confidence, resilience and how to protect themselves by helping them find their footing in water.

“Water offers the perfect environment to build not just physical coordination, but also qualities like calm under pressure to survive water incidents, emotional management, confidence to execute solutions and resilience to overcome challenges. These are all foundational traits of leadership,” he said.

Before starting Dip Swim, Mr Pang launched his own security company in 2011, and explored tech-based solutions such as new security technologies and developed training simulators. The business shuttered in 2021 during the pandemic.

“The early years were tough. Credibility had to be re-earned in the private sector. I quickly learnt that reputation alone doesn’t convert to revenue. I had to relearn humility, resilience, and business fundamentals,” he said.

Mr Pang is married with one daughter. He also has two children from a previous marriage.

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