SUPPORTING CHAMPIONS

The journey towards a fitter, stronger and better version of yourself through sport is not always an easy road. Marathoner Ashley Liew, triathlete Ahmad Arif Ibrahim, and trail runner Ong Kian Tiong share with us how their coaches and mentors helped to encourage and motivate them to bring out the best in their sporting abilities. They tell us of their doubts and struggles, and why the presence of an experienced mentor is vital in helping them achieve their best.

- Lionel Kong

TRUST THE PROCESS

Triathlete Ahmad Arif Ibrahim went to sports coach Ben Pulham to learn how to train smarter, and a firm friendship was forged.

26-year-old Arif was a member of Singapore’s silver medal winning team in the duathlon mixed relay at the 2019 SEA Games. The trainee teacher got his start in multisport in 2016, after a couple of years in other activities.

He explains in detail, “I tried adventure racing in 2010, in my first year at a local polytechnic. I left after one semester as I was more interested in football and floorball, which I played competitively since secondary school. I completed my first aquathlon in my third year at polytechnic with some friends, but I only really got serious about triathlon at the tail end of my National Service obligation. It started when I met triathlon coach Arthur Tong while attending a course, and he got me started by helping me with my open water swimming technique.”

Arif was racing with his university buddies, but he also had the thought of trying out for a place in the national team for the 2019 SEA Games, which was at that time still in the future. He had a problem though, as his performance seemed to have stalled. No matter how hard he trained, he wasn't getting any better. It was like he had hit a glass ceiling, and the process was also demotivating.

Arif felt that he needed a dedicated coach if he was to deliver his best shot for a place on the national team, and he got in touch Ben Pulham, a former pro-triathlete and now sports coach for help.