Singapore Aquatics targeting at least 20 golds at SEA Games, but also keeping ‘bigger picture’ targets in mind

Games medals are but one indicator of the state of the ecosystem, he added.

“What we are really looking at … is how this reflects the depth of our pipeline, whether our athletes are on aggregate hitting their personal milestones. And then taking this information and recalibrating their plans towards our future and larger goals and ambitions,” he said.

At the last Games held in Cambodia in 2023, Singapore won 23 golds across the various aquatics sports, with 22 from its swimmers and one courtesy of its men’s water polo team. This was close to half of the 51 gold medals won by Team Singapore at that event.

“We come up with these estimates by talking to our coaches, the technical directors as well. So it’s an educated guess,” said Prof Goh. “This is sport, there’s always variation in outcomes.”

Ultimately, SAQ is not “fixating” on medals, but rather focusing on athletes working towards “bigger picture” goals such as personal bests, he said.

“If … other athletes perform poorly, and we come up with a nice bumper crop of medals, does that mean we are doing well?” Prof Goh added.

“What we are really focused on is ensuring that other athletes are on track towards their broader-term, bigger-picture goals, and that’s going to be more important for us.”

OTHER COUNTRIES PREPARING WELL

In swimming, Singapore will field 21 athletes, with a good mix of experience and youth. 

“We have a good crop of athletes that are going for this one, but we do know the other countries are also preparing really well for the competition,” said SAQ’s national head coach Gary Tan.