Beyond Medals and Swim Records: What Legacy Looks Like to Ang Peng Siong

What defines a successful sports career – is it a room filled with medals, or a room of people you’ve inspired? Now a coach, Ang Peng Siong opens up about the legacy he has built and the baton he hopes to pass to the next generation of swimmers.

From Champion to Coach – Passing the Baton

50.39 seconds. That’s how long Ang Peng Siong held his breath, alongside the rest of Singapore, as Joseph Schooling swam the 100m butterfly at the Rio 2016 Games. And when Schooling’s fingers found the wall and won the nation’s first Olympic gold, Ang Peng Siong felt a mixed bag of emotions. 

Beyond pride, there was wistfulness only understood by any swimmer who’d ever chased a dream in the pool. That historic moment reflected the ‘what ifs’ of his unfulfilled Olympic dream.

The Race That Stayed With Him

In 1984, Ang Peng Siong made his Olympic debut in the 100m freestyle event. The then 22-year-old had already made waves at the 1982 US Swimming Championships and Asian Games. Despite his best efforts, he only made the B Finals (top 16 swimmers). 

Then came the 1988 Seoul Olympics. That year, his pet event, the 50m freestyle, was included in the Games for the first time. It was his best, and last, chance at a medal. Ang Peng Siong finished 9th, just 0.04 seconds shy of qualifying for the A Finals (top 8 swimmers).

“That was one of the two times I’ve ever cried, with the other time being in 1993 when I retired. It was knowing you came so close and had the opportunity to medal… Things could have been different. After that race and a good cry, I put it behind me.

But things also happen for a reason. One of my missions was to provide opportunities for others to step up and take on that challenge. So, I put in my own life’s mission to ensure that the next Singaporean that comes that close would have every opportunity to succeed.”

Letting Go – But Not Giving Up

Ang Peng Siong officially retired from swimming at just 31. Rather than dwell on the ‘what ifs’, he turned his energies towards coaching the next generation. In 1995, he set up APS Swim School and the Aquatic Performance Swim Club. 

Aside from promoting and teaching swimming to make it more accessible and holistic, another of his goals was to “share the joy and love of swimming for all”. And when he said all, he meant all. 

Over the years, he coached swimmers at various levels, from young learners waddling in the kiddy pool to national champions competing on the international stage. He has even seen a second generation of students return to the school and hopes for a third.

Additionally, he worked with some of the nation’s brightest para-athletes such as Toh Wei Soong, Yip Pin Xiu, and Theresa Goh. By planning their training schedules, securing mainstream coverage for disability sports, and gathering a sports science team, the dedicated competitive coach ensures his athletes are given every opportunity they need to succeed. 

“Sometimes you just need that extra help and luck.”

Building A Strong Foundation For The Next Swimming Generation

Ang Peng Siong spent the first half of his life in the pool chasing an Olympic Gold. While a medal has eluded him, the swimming icon spent the next half of his life ensuring those who came after him would not. Nowadays, the 62-year-old is content with a life away from the spotlight. 

“I enjoy my time with my family and time spent at home. I enjoy my time at the pool working with the swimmers and coaches. Anything to do with swimming, I am happy. There will come a day when I have to retire, but I’ll probably still be involved in swimming in some way.”

As the passage of time sees new athletes beat his swim records, his behind-the-scenes contributions to lay the foundations for a stronger swimming and sporting ecosystem will remain forever. Through his care and commitment towards giving back to his community, his legacy continues to touch the lives of the next generation, one swimmer at a time.

Ang Peng Siong may not have an Olympic gold medal to his name. But being surrounded by his loved ones and finding peace and purpose through mentoring others is gold enough.