This July, GESS Grade 10 students ADA and PHONE PYAE HAN (CHINT CHINT) are heading to the Paris Olympics 2024. They will be representing their home countries of Nigeria and Myanmar in the Women’s and Men’s 100m Freestyle respectively. Training and preparing them is the school’s Head of Swimming, IVAN BUNAKOV, who has been creating opportunities that enabled the GESS Wildcats, to make waves competitively in Singapore and beyond. We hear from them about their preparations.
When did you first dive into your passion for swimming? What has kept you going all these years?
Ada: I began swimming at the age of 8 for a quite funny reason. My father and I were making a bet on how fast I could swim for ice cream, which was how I began my very first training lesson. After that, I basically fell in love with the sport of swimming and it became more than just a hobby. I love to swim with my friends, and I love meeting new people at all the exciting swim meets GESS took part in.
Chint Chint: Making it into the Olympics has always been my dream – I started swimming at 9 and from that moment, my goal was to compete on the Olympic stage. My idol Singaporean Joseph Schooling defeating Michael Phelps in the 100m butterfly at the 2016 Olympics inspired me deeply. His achievement showed me that anything is possible. I’ve trained hard, driven by the vision of racing alongside legends. To have come this far to the Paris Olympics 2024 is incredibly rewarding!
What would you consider your biggest challenges in your sport pursuit?
Ada: As I grew older, there were multiple challenges that I started to encounter, as swimming was not the only thing I pursued in life. At various moments of my life, it was very difficult finding the right balance between swimming, academics and socialising with friends. However, I’ve always found great motivation looking at all the great athletes who travel and compete at all these amazing places, and that always kept me going.
Chint Chint: Balancing schoolwork with my rigorous training schedule has definitely been a challenge. I stay on top of things by organising my tasks and setting clear priorities. To handle the workload, I dedicate time for school work over the weekends and during school holidays. Being an athlete has taught me how to handle stress effectively, which, in turn, makes schoolwork easier to manage. The discipline and focus required in sports have helped me become more efficient and organised in my academic life.
How has GESS supported your pursuit of competitive swimming?
Ada: GESS has also been extremely supportive. From organising and participating in swim meets both in and out of Singapore, to investing in top-notch training equipment, the school has always shown commitment to helping me and the team grow. With the support of my coach and knowing that my teammates are also going through the same challenges, I know that I’m not alone and that I have people rooting for me.
Chint Chint: GESS has been incredibly understanding of the demands of my sport. If I need to compete, they provide support for school work, ensuring that I can balance both my academic and athletic commitments. The school’s sports counsellors and my coach offer invaluable support; I know I can always talk to them if I have any concerns. My team at GESS is like a second family; we support one another, both in training and at competitions. This supportive environment has been crucial in helping me pursue my Olympic dream while keeping up with my studies.
Share with us…
Three words that describe your emotions as the Paris Olympics 2024 approaches.
Ada: Pride, excitement and joy.
Chint Chint: Excited, determined and grateful.
People you want to thank for helping you come this far.
Ada: My parents, my coach and my GESS swim community.
Chint Chint: My mom, my dad and my swim coaches in and out of GESS.
Three preparatory activities that you’re doing on a daily basis.
Ada: Repeating my 100-metre set, sprinting sets and power sessions.
Chint Chint: Swimming drills, strength training and endurance workout.
The lucky charm you will be bringing with you to Paris.
Ada: My stuffed animal.
Chint Chint: My pillow!
Three things you miss doing during this period.
Ada: Hanging out with friends, eating junk food and having time for my other hobbies.
Chint Chint: Also hanging out with my friends and eating junk food! And going to birthday parties.
What’s the first thing you want to do after the Paris Olympics 2024?
Ada: Take some time off swimming and spend some quality time with my friends and my family.
Chint Chint: I’ll be spending time with friends and family and having a good rest.
Hear from Coach Ivan
Tell us more about the GESS Wildcats and the competitive swimming team.
Currently, we have over 120 swimmers in our programme across five squads. We seek to recruit a targeted 30% more in the new academic year.
Competitive swimming training typically involves a structured and rigorous programme. It’s designed to enhance athletes’ speed, endurance, technique and mental toughness. This depends on the level of swimmers, their age and commitment to competitive swimming.
Is there anything different in the competitive swimming training for Ada and Chint Chint as they prepare for the Paris Olympics 2024?
Our competitive swimming training plan at GESS is set to a high standard and follows a rigorous routine. Typically, it’s eight sessions per week in the pool plus land and lift.
We have been working closely together with Ada and Chint Chint to ensure they are in optimal condition to perform their best in Paris this summer. Our swimmers already work on a very rigorous day-to-day basis to become a better athlete and person. So I expect nothing less from them for the Paris Olympics 2024.
What personal milestones do you hope to achieve from this?
Personally, the Olympic Games have been a big dream since I started swimming myself. I always wanted to get there, and this is coming true for me in another way, as a competitive swimming coach. I’m proud to have Ada and Chint Chint on my GESS competitive swimming team.
I’m elated to know that another swimmer who I’ve coached for seven years in Singapore made it to the Olympics too!
Any words of encouragement for Ada, Chint Chint and others on the GESS swim team who aspire for the same opportunity?
To Ada and Chint Chint, believe in yourself and stay focused. Remember to still allocate time for family and friends – and enjoy the process!
For our GESS swimmers, dream big and appreciate the opportunity when it comes your way.
About Coach Ivan
Ivan’s international journey began in 2009 after his Master’s Degree in Physical Education and Sport, Higher Professional Education from Krasnoyarsk State Education University, specialising in Swimming. He also holds a Level 5 certificate, the highest coaching certification, from the American Swimming Coach Association (ASCA).
He has 15 years of experience as a performance coach where he cultivatednational athletes from Spain, Italy, Ireland, South Africa and UK. Among his many trainees are swim champs such as Carmen Weiler Sastre of the Spanish National Team, Jack Cassin of the Irish Junior National Team and Singapore champion, Scarlett Nichol of South African Junior National Team and Michael Adeney of the English Junior National Team. In Qatar, he was coach to Sam Dailey who broke over 10 national age-group records and represented Great Britain in international events. He now resides in Singapore with his family.
Coming onboard the GESS family in end 2022, he reformulated the swimming curriculum and leads a team of eight full-time swim coaches. Coach Ivan has also organised a number of championships among regional international schools, helping the GESS swim team make new records.
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Keen to read more? GESS Singapore’s Vice Principal tells us about the school’s new holistic curriculum, while the Head of Student Wellbeing chats with us about the new GESS Singapore student wellbeing centre. Or head to our Schools section for more articles on education in Singapore.
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