In the rink 5 hours a day, ice-skater bags Singapore’s first Asian Trophy gold
National speed skater Trevor Tan after winning gold at the Asian Open Short-Track Trophy in Kunming, China.
SINGAPORE — Rising at 4.30am over the past eight months, national speed skater Trevor Tan plugs away for four or five hours a day in an ice-skating rink.
This gruelling schedule has paid off for the 16-year-old, who is on a year-long break from his studies to train in South Korea.
Last Wednesday (Aug 28), he became the first Singaporean to clinch gold in the men’s Junior B 1,000m category at the Asian Open Short-Track Trophy in Kunming, China.
Not only did Trevor pip Chinese and Korean skaters, his timing of 1.29.899 minutes made him the fastest Singaporean in that category. It was also an under-18 national record.
The two-day event featured 122 skaters from 10 countries, with Singapore fielding its biggest team of seven skaters aged 12 to 16.
But the journey there was no stroll in the park.
Trevor, who took a gap year from the Singapore Sports School in January, told TODAY this week that his days begin before dawn.
He initially trained at the Goyang Club in Gyeonggi, South Korea, before moving south to train temporarily at the Busan Club as the Goyang rink is being renovated.
He trains from 5am to 9am, and again from 4pm to 8.30pm. Of these, four or five hours are spent on ice.
In Singapore, he spent just four hours a week in the rink, with training happening mostly off-ice.
The intense training has not been for nought. “The results showed me that the training… has improved my overall technique and speed,” Trevor said, adding that he spends more time skating now than walking.
He had trained at Goyang on four previous occasions since 2017, but the present stint in South Korea is his longest yet.
Coached at Goyang by South Korean Lee Hosuk, an Olympic gold medallist, Trevor’s training compatriots included short-track speed skater Kwak Yoon-gy, who was the 2012 overall world champion, and two-time Olympic gold medallist Kim A-lang.
Now, at Busan, he trains under coach Lee Hoeung, a two-time world champion.
Training among the world’s best has spurred him to do better.
“I don’t see this as a challenge, but (it is) inspirational as the top skaters would encourage me when I feel really burned out,” Trevor said.
Has he ever been homesick? The young man, who turns 17 this month, said that he is too tired to “do anything else” after training. “However, I do miss Singapore food a lot. I also miss my parents, relatives and friends.”
It is unclear who is funding Trevor’s stint in South Korea. He is not allowed to disclose the information due to an agreement with the Singapore Ice Skating Association, which supports recreational and competitive ice-skaters. When approached, the association and government agency Sport Singapore declined comment.
WINTER OLYMPIC DREAMS
Trevor has set his sights further afield and hopes to compete among global heavyweights.
He wants to walk in the footsteps of fellow skater Cheyenne Goh, Singapore’s maiden Winter Olympian in the 2018 games, and qualify for the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.
“The results (in the Asian Open) have motivated me to work even harder towards my goals this season,” he said.
Ms Alicia Tan, honorary secretary of the Singapore Ice Skating Association, said that the group was “elated that Trevor has won Singapore’s first Asian Trophy gold, marking a new milestone for Singapore short track”.
PARENTS' INITIAL FEARS
Trevor’s foray into speed skating when he was 11 happened almost by chance.
“The first time I came across short-track speed skating was during the national-team training session early in the morning six years ago,” he said.
“I was skating leisurely at the rink and it caught my attention, as I never knew someone could go so fast on ice with a pair of blades.”
His progress since has been meteoric, sweeping up silver and bronze medals at the 2016 International Skating Union World Development Trophy in Australia, and gold and silver awards at the union’s South-east Asia Trophy in Singapore this year.
At first, Trevor’s parents had reservations about his involvement because they saw speed skating as a dangerous sport.
But they have since warmed up to it, backing him financially and motivating him whenever he is down or has thoughts of giving up.
His father, Mr Tan Eng Kong, 46, said that he and his wife were happy that Trevor could do Singapore proud.
“We have seen him become much more independent. He manages his own schedule and finances. He has even learned to cook,” the test engineer told TODAY.
ANOTHER GAP YEAR ON THE CARDS
Next year, Trevor will resume his studies at the Singapore Sports School.
He has been enrolled in an extended International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme since the start of this year. This allows him to pursue the post-secondary diploma over four years instead of the usual two.
He will complete the course by the end of 2022.
With the extra time, Trevor plans to take another gap year in 2021 to gear up for the Winter Olympics.
In the coming months, he will take part in the International Skating Union World Cups, a series of competitions held in various places, and the South-east Asian Games in the Philippines in November and December.
Ultimately, his success boils down to hard work.
“I know that if I put in my best and work very hard during training, I will improve tremendously,” Trevor said.
“I did not really think about winning an international competition as it will add more pressure on me. However, I will definitely do my best in every competition.”
