ONG STORMS TO NEW RECORDS

Singapore freediver weathers difficulties in Philippines to set two national marks

- David Lee

Even in the face of a typhoon that left more than 100 dead and forced over half a million people to flee their homes, Singapore freediver Patricia Ong remained undeterred in her quest to compete in the Philippines.

Her determination paid off as she topped one category and set two national records at the International Association for the Development of Apnea (Aida) Mabini Depth Quest earlier in November.

As the Aida competition was postponed by a week and started on Oct 31 because of Tropical Storm Trami, Ong had to forfeit her budget-airline return ticket and get a new one.

"In the end, I was the only foreign athlete who stayed, but I was determined to complete what I set out for," said the 35-year-old self-funded swim coach.

Little did she realise that there were more obstacles for her to overcome in Batangas province, a three-hour drive from Manila.

Due to safety concerns, she could not train in the choppy waters off Mabini for two weeks before the event.

She was also stranded in the village where she stayed in a private room at the local freediving school that organised the competition.