What it takes to win for competitive swimmers

Students of Stamford American International School have plenty of opportunity for collaboration with other schools that are also in the global Cognita schools network. A great example is the recent Cognita Swim League meet for competitive swimmers. Read on to find out how this helps them for life beyond school and sport.

Sharpening skills among competitive swimmers of Cognita Schools

In September, Stamford American hosted four participating schools – the Australian International School, International School Ho Chi Minh City, St Andrew Bangkok and Stamford American School Hong Kong – for one of five Cognita Swim League meets held in the calendar year. These meets allow the school’s competitive swimmers to test themselves against the best in Singapore and in Southeast Asia, building the resilience and rigour needed to perform at their best in any environment.

There were 182 swimmers across all age groups from eight to 18 (Grades 2 to 12) from the five schools. Though they faced some fierce competition, Stamford American’s team finished second overall.

According to coaches at the meet, the senior athletes of Stamford American really stepped up to mentor their younger teammates, creating an atmosphere of mutual support. This boosted performances across the events, with a lot of swimmers achieving personal best times under competitive pressure. The cheers from parents and peers also fuelled each swimmer’s drive to push beyond their limits.

In the process of training and competing, swimmers of Stamford American also learnt how to deal with extreme highs (winning gold medals) and extreme lows (being disqualified or swimming a bad race), and how to work in a team environment. They also had to manage their time for studies, training and sleep. All these instilled habits that will serve them well beyond sport for life.

Looking ahead, Stamford American says that the League will continue to be a platform for growth and friendship across the school community. It will help students thrive in a rapidly evolving world by combining the aforementioned resilience and rigour with global connections.

Hear from Stamford American students who are competitive swimmers…

“I’ve been swimming for eight years, with the last four on the competitive team at Stamford American. Going up against athletes who are just as passionate about the sport makes me want to train harder and perform at my best. It also teaches me the importance of consistency and focus. The discipline I build through swimming – balancing training, competitions and academics – has helped me set higher goals for myself and stay committed to reaching them.”
– Ariel, Grade 12 (competed in six individual and three relay races at the swim meet in September)

“This is my eighth year on the swim team of Stamford American International School. Competing against other Cognita schools motivates me to continue training for better success; this also applies to my studies. It’s fine to fall, as it’s part of the journey, but we should also climb back up stronger and better than before.”
– Jie Zhao, Grade 9 (competed in seven individual and three relay races)

“I’ve been swimming competitively for around two years with the school. It’s not always easy to keep up with swimming and academics. But the discipline the sport has provided for me has made it easier to keep up with my schoolwork.”
– Erin, Grade 7 (competed in seven individual and two relay races)

Hear from a Cognita schools coach…

“The school promotes continuous learning for students and coaches alike. For instance, the day after the League, I went to an Adam Peaty racing clinic at Bangkok Prep International School in Bangkok. The following day, I visited two Cognita schools there to share coaching experience with both their swim teams and coaches.”
– Darren Gum (coaching for 23 years in Singapore international schools, including 2.5 years at Stamford American)

Stamford American International School is at 1 Woodleigh Lane. 6653 2949 | sais.edu.sg

This article first appeared in the November 2025 edition of Expat Living. You can purchase the latest issue or subscribe, so you never miss a copy! Read how Grade 12 SAIS students raised money for gifts for the school’s Maintenance team. Head to our Schools section for more articles on education in Singapore.

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