Photo credit: Youth.SG/Raynard Ong

Becoming an Olympic gymnast

Tan Sze En is only the second Singaporean gymnast to qualify for the Olympic Games.

Marielle Descalsota

Published: 22 November 2019, 12:00 AM

Tan Sze En might only be 19 years old, but she is already a veteran gymnast.

Having spent 13 years in the sport, the former Raffles Girl’s School student isn’t your ordinary teenager — she is also Singapore’s first gymnast to qualify for the Olympic Games in seven years.

Youth.SG met her during a training session at the MOE (Evans) Sports Hall to find out more about her journey to becoming an Olympian.

Having seen her perform with such prowess at the World Championships (or Worlds for short) last month, I was surprised that she is actually soft spoken in person.

Sze En took some time off her training to share more about her journey in sports.

“Qualifying was a big surprise. I had no expectations going into Worlds,” said the 1.72m tall athlete, “the motivation has always been the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.”

Her story is even more compelling knowing that she had suffered a shoulder injury prior to last year’s Asian Games, and had only begun training in the all-around event four months ago.

 

Sze En was our country’s sole representative at last month’s World Championships in Germany, where she secured her spot in Tokyo with a 48.098 all-around score.
Photo credit: Youth.SG/Raynard Ong

 

The reserved artistic gymnast said: “People think gymnasts are super strong and flexible, but they don’t see the work we put in, just the end result.

“It was really hard during my injury. It affected me at [last year’s] Asian Games as I couldn’t compete in the all-around, so I had to take time away.”

 

Sze En injured her shoulder prior to the 2018 Asian Game in Jakarta.
Photo credit: SportSG

 

Time away from the gymnasium was difficult for Sze En, who had been training since she was six years old. However, it also gave her the opportunity to reassess her career in gymnastics.

“I was getting burnt out, and that break was actually a blessing in disguise. I returned with a new fire for gymnastics and it made me realise I still wanted to pursue gym,” said Sze En, who returned to the gym to begin simple exercises just one week after her surgery.

 

The teenager (second from right) also credits her “sports-oriented” family for being committed to her dream, and helping her recover from injury.
Photo credit: Tan Sze En’s Instagram

 

“The sacrifices are worth it because sports careers are so short. You have limited time to achieve your goals,” she said, referencing the fact that most gymnasts retire in their early 20s.

Outside the gymnasium, Sze En is eloquent and well-read, gaining admission into the prestigious Stanford University last year. However, she put her studies on hold to prepare for the Olympics.

 

When Sze En moved to the United States to train in Illinois, her parents made the sacrifice to accompany her abroad to support her dreams.
Photo credit: Tan Sze En’s Instagram

 

“I took a gap year from Stanford. But now it’s worth it because I’ve made it to Tokyo,” she said, smiling.

She wishes to pursue a degree in geological sciences in the future as she has always been fascinated with learning about earthquakes and volcanoes.

 

Sze En soothes her nerves before competing by Facetiming her friends and listening to her favourite music by Panic! At The Disco and Post Malone.
Photo credit: Youth.SG/Raynard Ong

 

Despite her youth, the Olympian is truly a representative of the rising generation of Singaporeans who are making a mark on the world stage. As Sze En prepares to bear the Singapore flag in Manila and Tokyo, she encourages fellow youth to do what they love.

She said: “I’ve had moments of wanting to give up, but I don’t want to regret and have ‘what if’s. That’s why I keep going.

“I want to show the younger generation that nothing is impossible. You can do anything you set your mind to.”

 

 

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