SINGAPORE – Artyom Lukasevits was just a young boy when the SEA Games came to town 10 years ago, and managed to watch the action unfold only from the stands.
In three months’ time, the 20-year-old Singaporean will have the opportunity to be in the thick of the action when the World Aquatics Championships are staged for the first time here from July 11 to Aug 3 at the Sports Hub.
The open water specialist, born in Singapore to Estonian parents, said: “I’ve always wanted to race in front of my home crowd. The last time that happened on a big stage was the 2015 SEA Games.
“But back then, I was just a kid, I was in the stands watching. Now I get to be in the pool, in the sea (off Sentosa), in front of the home crowd… It means the world, especially for my family and friends.”
“Every time I go overseas for racing, they can’t really follow unless they pay a bomb, but now they get to see first-hand the fruits of my work in the past few years,” said Lukasevits at the 100-day countdown to the championships at the Bukit Canberra Swimming Complex on April 2.
To mark the occasion, Sembawang West residents teamed up with Singapore national swimmers and T100 triathlon athletes to race in a relay, as part of the SG60 swim challenge. The event was officiated by Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong, who hailed the staging of the prestigious event during SG60.
“This is not just about top-class championship swimming – we will see a lot of that, of course – but this is also about how it inspires all of us and brings us all together.”
Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong (kneeling, second from right) takes a group photo with the two mascots of the World Aquatics Championships – Singapore 2025, as well as participants of the SG60 Swim Challenge.ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM
For Lukasevits, besides preparing for the world meet, he will be casting an eye on his training schedule in his effort to qualify for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, with national service enlistment coming in 2025.
He said: “I’m not sure about how it’s gonna pan out right now, because we’re waiting for answers, but I’m sure they (Singapore Aquatics) are providing me support and helping me through this, and I’m trying to make it work out.
“My goal is the Olympic Games, and technically, the earlier I go in for national service, the better, because then it gives me more time, when I’m out, to prepare.
“But I’ve also worked out some plans with my coaches on how to stay fit and how to stay ready even during NS.”
National swimmer Teong Tzen Wei (diving into the pool) said there is no need to feel pressure as he prepares for the World Aquatics Championships in July.ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM
Another national swimmer looking forward to the world meet is Teong Tzen Wei, who will be looking to rebound after struggling mentally during a lengthy period on the sidelines with an elbow injury in 2024.
The 27-year-old said: “My preparations have been going okay, I am just training as per usual. Eat well, sleep well and stay in a good mental headspace.
“Competing on home ground will always give me an extra boost. This will be my second time, if I manage to make the world championships, because I competed in the world cup here last year, and even in the small OCBC Aquatic Centre, the atmosphere was electrifying.”
Butterfly sprinter Teong will use the Singapore Open in May to try to qualify for the world championships, after which he will have another major assignment at the SEA Games in December.
“I’m just focusing on what I need to do day to day,” said Teong.
“If the medal comes, then that’s really a blessing, but at least I know that I worked hard and put everything on the table, so no need to really feel that much pressure as of now.
“But that kind of pressure is great for you to kick-start the mind and body and use it to swim faster.”
Meanwhile, Mr Tong revealed on April 2 the name for the new entity formed through the merger of the Singapore Sport Institute (SSI), National Youth Sports Institute (NYSI) and Singapore Sports School (SSP) to enable a more integrated and effective youth-to-senior support framework for national athletes.
On social media, he said the High Performance Sports Institute (HPSI) “brings together expertise in sport science, medicine and athlete development to ensure that our Team Singapore athletes have the right support to grow and reach their best potential”.
“We will provide a more seamless and structured high performance sport ecosystem that supports our athletes from youth to senior levels,” he added.
- Melvyn Teoh is a sports journalist at The Straits Times.
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