Fitness
My workout routine consists of boxing three to four times a week, combined with one to two sessions of HIIT and/or Yoga. I also try to walk instead of drive wherever I go.
I do what suits my body clock and schedule. As I work a lot, sometimes my body and mind experience fatigue so I would do something on the low-intensity side. When time permits and I have had a good sleep, I’d take on boxing and a quick HIIT session or yoga.
Sometimes, my husband and I take slow strolls or jogs together, but we like to keep our workout regime separate as it's a very personal thing.
Strong women
Confidence and the ability to not care about societal acceptance make a woman strong.
Relaxation
I head for our beautiful beach apartment in Australia and watch the ocean. I also play with my three dogs.
Fitness
Monday, Wednesday and Friday – gym at the Singapore Sports Institute
Tuesday and Thursday – netball court training
Saturday – my partner and I will choose either basketball, running or swimming. Otherwise, it will be recovery day.
Challenges
Sometime in 2012, 2013, I got stuck in a rut. I couldn’t seem to shoot well. I lost the confidence I had in myself and just wanted to quit the sport for good. My coach –Ruth Aitken – family, close friends and team mates motivated and encouraged me. Ruth taught me to pick myself up.
Fun
I spend time with my loved ones. Chilling at cafes, working out together with love, catching up with people who matter, shopping – very therapeutic – and short getaways, if time permits.
Fitness
Because I travel so much, I don’t have a set workout routine. When I wake up, I have a quick, three-minute dance party and sneak in a few sun salutations. I do yoga stretches before sleeping.
Depending on how I feel, I incorporate a balance of strength and cardio exercises into my week. In Singapore, I’ll do weight training two to three times a week, play tennis with my dad, walk around the Botanic Gardens with mum and do yoga. I also love trying out new fitness classes with friends. When I’m travelling, I do a lot of pilates on YouTube and go on hikes!
Obsession
I started working out for enjoyment, and somewhere along the way, that disappeared when I pushed myself to do intense workouts every day. It was easy to get caught up over the feeling of accomplishment after each session. It turned into an all-or-nothing attitude where I’d either be ‘on form’ one week, or completely relaxed the next, too tired to do anything. It took me some time to scale back, rekindle my love for movement and remember why I work out in the first place.
Balance
I don’t think there is a perfect balance. I used to try to achieve it. Now, I try my hardest to focus on one thing at a time instead of constantly juggling like what I used to do. When I work, I get my head down and finish the task; when I’m relaxing with family and friends, I shut off my work brain and focus completely on being in the present. Life has been simpler and more gratifying since.
Fitness
I work out six to seven days a week, depending on my schedule and body condition: a five-minute warm-up on the treadmill, exercise bike or Skywalker, followed by some dynamic stretching. I don't really have a fixed program but I will do a segment between power, strength, balance (core stability) and body sculpting exercises. Equipment that I typically use: gym ball, Bosu ball, ab wheel, dumb bells and TRX.
Hopes and dreams
It has always been my dream to win a SEA Games medal. However, the last 10 years of my sporting journey were rough. At three SEA Games, I didn't achieve the result that I wanted.
I also want to send a message to women, especially mothers: Anything is possible if you set your mind to it. Often, women are conditioned to believe they cannot do many things – like being an athlete – after having a child. But after reading many stories about athletes in Europe and the US performing better after they had a child, believed that I could be one of them, so I decided to return to the sport. I hope that my success story will inspire women to know that they can be even greater as mothers.
Family
My husband is my coach and my son has been with me at the track since he was 16 days old. We have our family time at the track or at competitions. My son usually mimics what I do. So, at the track, he will pick up a pole and try 'pole vaulting'. Cycling is our regular family activity.
My son is my greatest inspiration. I want to be a role model for him, and the best way is to walk the talk. I hope when he grows up, he will be resilient and focused, and never, ever gives up.
Fitness
I’m quite the fitness and health fanatic and have been for some time. Staying fit and taking care of my health and wellbeing has always been a way of life for me.
Marathon running
I’ve always been an avid runner and to run a marathon has been on my bucket list for a long time. When I initially took up the challenge to run the Tokyo Marathon, I told myself that as long as I cross that finish line, all would be good. But once I started training and following a set training schedule, I got really focused and dived into it.
The marathon was a great challenge and an incredible experience. I feel like a different person now.
Self-discovery
In order to progress, both the mind and the body have to work in harmony. My mind tends to get ahead of me and I also push myself a bit too hard sometimes. In the course of training for the Tokyo Marathon, I’ve learned that it's important to have the right mindset and be focused as well as know when to slow down and listen to my body. It’s better to miss a day of training than push an exhausted body to complete a scheduled session as this will cause more harm than good.
Patience is also key to achieve your training goals.