Toughest Part Of Sport

The search for resolve

In the first of this five-part weekly series, assistant sports editor Rohit Brijnath speaks to open-water swimmer Chantal Liew.

National open-water swimmer Chantal Liew training in the sea and posing out of it. ST PHOTOS: KEVIN LIM
National open-water swimmer Chantal Liew training in the sea and posing out of it. ST PHOTOS: KEVIN LIM
National open-water swimmer Chantal Liew training in the sea and posing out of it. ST PHOTOS: KEVIN LIM
National open-water swimmer Chantal Liew training in the sea and posing out of it. ST PHOTOS: KEVIN LIM
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Out in the open sea, half-submerged on a sweltering day, the finish line nowhere in sight, tiredness coming in waves, competitors clattering into her, the current tugging her in the wrong direction, there's no coach, no physio, no parent to help open-water swimmer Chantal Liew.

Out there, on this undulating sheet of water, she's alone. Ten kilometres to go and only one ally.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on August 29, 2020, with the headline The search for resolve. Subscribe