\n<\/p>\n
Today, both Yap sisters represent Singapore at the national level, sharing not just a sport but a unique understanding of its demands.<\/p>\n
“Having a sister who has similar experiences as me is … something that’s really helped me,” Amanda said. “I can always talk to her, ask her for advice.”<\/p>\n
The Methodist Girls’ School student trains six times a week \u2013 four hours each session \u2013 with Saturday as her only rest day. Evenings are spent doing homework and revision. It’s a schedule that would exhaust most adults.<\/p>\n
“I find artistic gymnastics fun because it really challenges you to do your best, and you really have to have a lot of resilience to push on, especially when things get tough,” Amanda said.<\/p>\n
Her father, Clarence Yap, emphasised that their role as parents wasn’t to push but to provide space.<\/p>\n
“All we really did was allow her to have the space to pursue what she wants to do,” he said. “There isn’t anything exceptional in what we did beyond allowing that to happen and just being supportive.”<\/p>\n
He does tell them this: “There are hundreds and thousands of kids in Singapore who get four As, but how many kids get to say they represent Singapore?”<\/p>\n
But when Amanda’s O-level examination dates clashed with the world championships, <\/strong>she seriously considered skipping the competition. The event’s open format, however, presented an opportunity.<\/p>\n “We thought that maybe this would let us gain more experience, so we should do it,\u201d Amanda said.<\/p>\n Having secured a spot at Singapore Sports School under the Early Admission Exercise \u2013 albeit with certain criteria still to meet \u2013 took some of the pressure off.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe really just wanted to do our best and take in the experience, rather than aim for getting into finals or getting a medal,” Amanda said. “We knew that probably wouldn’t be possible.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n The logistics were punishing. After completing one exam in Singapore, she flew to Jakarta for the competition.\u00a0<\/p>\n Amanda and a teammate \u2013 also sitting for O-Levels \u2013 crammed study sessions into every available moment: on flights, during the three training days before competition, and in a hotel cafe where the young athletes gathered with their textbooks.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n