SWIMMING BAR TO RISE

New S'pore Aquatics head Goh to launch SwimSingapore to improve standards

- David Lee

Barely two weeks have passed since the Paris Olympics, but Singapore Aquatics president Kenneth Goh knows there is little time to waste, as the newly appointed chief revealed a new SwimSingapore national swimming framework aimed at raising overall standards.

The 46-year-old and his team were elected unopposed at the association's annual general meeting on Aug 23. He takes over the helm from Mark Chay, who chose not to seek re-election after being diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukaemia.

Goh told The Straits Times: "We are looking at establishing a national framework of standards.

"We have a talent development pipeline that starts with our clubs, and this SwimSingapore framework is a way to go further upstream, to establish these standards and milestones, and give parents confidence that they are backed by an official programme.

"The aspiration here is that our young swimmers will be equipped with basic, foundational skills to move on into more advanced programmes, in swimming, water polo, artistic swimming and diving.

"It's really an attempt at improving the quality of our pipeline by going upstream to improve the standards and milestones." SwimSingapore will be fully launched in 2025 and, while more details will be shared in due course, it comprises several pillars in which participants will be certified, beginning with SwimStart for babies (six to 36 months old) and toddlers (three to four years old).