A swimming success

Nicolette Teo, 16, won two consecutive gold medals in the Southeast Asian Games: for the 200-metre breaststroke in 1999 and the 100-metre breaststroke in 2001.
Nicolette was born in Singapore and moved to Mission Viejo, Calif., at the beginning of the year. We caught up with Nicolette.
Next Step: When did you get involved in swimming?
Nicolette Teo: I started swimming competitively when I was 6 with the club PAYSC (People’s Associations Youth SwimmingClub). But as for first learning to swim, I don’t really remember. My parents, like many others, wanted me and my brother to be water safe, so they enrolled me in some learn-to-swim class really early.
NS: What do you enjoy the most about swimming?
NT: There are so so, so many things that I love about swimming! I love all the many little life lessons that swimming and competing has taught me, like discipline, time management and team spirit. I also love the feel of competing, the thrill and the sense of accomplishment after finishing a race. I love the feel of water, too! And even though practice may be hard and very tiring, I love it all!
NS: What’s the part you least like about swimming?
NT: I think the only thing I dislike about swimming is waking up for morning practice. I am not a morning person, and I love to sleep in late. But because of practice, I hardly get the chance to do so.
NS: What do you miss most about Singapore?
NT: Definitely my friends and family. And, oh yes, the food!
NS: What are your plans for the future?
NT: I definitely plan to go to collage in the States. Where is still a question.
NS: What advice would you give to athletes in Singapore looking to make it big? NT: I would tell them to never give up on their dreams, even though the road ahead is bumpy and hard. When you achieve your goal, it is so worth it!

Article provided by www.nextSTEPmag.com

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