Max Lee finished eighth in the 3m springboard final at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games Photo: SpexSG/ Andy Chua
Max Lee has gone from being the youngest diver at his first major international competition in 2021 – the Fina Diving World Cup in Tokyo – to now returning to the same venue as the oldest athlete in Singapore’s Asian Games diving contingent.
Reflecting on his growth as an athlete, the 18-year-old said: “If I were to (talk to) my younger self right now, I would say to just keep on working hard and don’t be lazy, because I know that I kind of slack off. When you’re a kid you do know your goals but you’re not as aware of what you can achieve in the sport.
“And I think as I got older, and as you put your mind to it, you realise that you actually have a chance. So I would tell my younger self to work even harder and live with no regrets.”
This mantra of living with no regrets was the driving force behind Lee’s recovery in the men’s 3m springboard final on 29 Sep at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre.
He had been ranked third after the first two rounds, and fourth after the third dive. A low score on his fourth dive (back 2 ½ somersaults) saw his position drop to 10th, but the 2025 SEA Games bronze medallist rebounded well in his final two dives to finish eighth with his score of 355.80.
“After that disappointment of a dive, I just told myself that it is what it is and you just have to move on and focus on the next two dives,” said Lee, who turns 19 in November. “I knew that going into the next two dives, I was very confident and my consistency was there … I kept telling myself, live with no regrets.
“It’s just (about) making sure I’m putting in my 100 per cent and not being nervous or scared because I messed up that fourth dive. I managed to do pretty well and I’m quite happy with my overall performance here.”
Lee’s event was Singapore’s last of the diving competition at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games. He is the only athlete in the Republic’s five-strong team with prior Asiad experience – Ainslee Kwang, Alexandra Yeo, Ryenne Cham and Sophia Tan are debutants.
Ainslee and Ryenne, both aged 15, finished ninth and 10th respectively in the women’s platform final on 29 Sep with their scores of 249.30 and 232.25. The pair are SEA Games silver medallists in the women’s synchronised platform, and were sixth with their score of 207.18 last week.
The women’s 10m platform field featured the likes of reigning world champion Chen Yuxi of China, who eventually took gold, as well as Olympic and world championship medallists Jo Jin-mi of North Korea and Malaysian Pandelela Rinong.
Ryenne said: “Competing at the same level as them makes me realise that I can also be of the same level. Watching them train and warm up gives me motivation and makes me want to go back and train harder for my next competition.”
Sophia and Alexandra were also inspired from the chance to compete alongside Asia’s top divers. The pair competed in the women’s 3m synchronised springboard, finishing sixth with their score of 203.31.
Their maiden outing at the Asian Games has been an invaluable experience, as Sophia, 17, said: “Being able to experience (the major Games) environment will help with our future competitions and knowing how to handle the pressure. The lesson I’ve learnt is to always focus on your own dive and maintain your composure. You’re not competing against other people; you’re competing against yourself.”
Partner Alexandra, 16, agreed: “I’ve learned quite a bit in terms of how to handle myself at a major Games. Even though there’s a lot more experience that I can pick up, it’s still been valuable to know how to calm myself down or handle my nerves. Especially when you know there are a lot of people who are better than you – how do you still do your best and not be so worried about beating other people but more so about beating yourself and improving.”
For Ainslee, who last year made history by becoming the first Singaporean diver to qualify for a world championship semi-final, staying grounded and focused despite setbacks remains the priority.
“At the end of the day, it’s still about me (doing) my best and doing better each time I compete. Although the competitors may stay strong and they are the same throughout these competitions, for me, the stress levels and what I think (about) during these competitions all remain the same – which is to show my confident side and to execute my dives well each competition,” she explained.
“Although things may not go your way, you still have to stay motivated and try your best until the end … as long as you do your best and stay grounded, at the end of the day, it’ll still be a good learning experience no matter how good or bad things go.”
The 20th Asian Games are held in Japan from 19 September to 4 October 2026. For the latest Team Singapore coverage and news, follow Team Singapore on their social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok) or visit the official Team Singapore website.