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Singapore's Emmanuelle Tan in action during the women's artistic gymnastics qualification round at the Youth Olympic Games on 8 Nov. Photo: OIS/ Kieran Cleeves
Gymnast Emmanuelle Tan closed out her Youth Olympic Games outing with deep appreciation for the experience and words of encouragement for her roommate, archer Tabitha Yeo.
The latter continues her competition on 9 Nov and Tan, who was 34th in the women’s artistic gymnastics qualification round with her score of 44.498 at the Dakar Expo Center, had this to say: “I hope you win because I know that you can lock in, I know that you’re very focused and I know you have what it takes to win.”
The 14-year-old Tan knows a thing or two about focus. Her pre-competition routine entails going over how she wants her event to go, and a mental revision of the skills and techniques that she will perform. She also has these cues replaying in her head: “Close legs, keep your leg straight from your toes, landing.”
Tan, who started the sport at age six, added: “To keep calm, I try not to think about what can go wrong, but what I have to do to make it right. This helps me to keep my mind focused on what I have to do and just not stress out too much.”
Emmanuelle Tan picked up gymnastics at age six, and the 2026 Asian Junior Championships was her first international competition. Photo: Courtesy of Emmanuelle Tan
She ended with the floor apparatus on the final rotation, and said of her performance: “Even though I did have a little bit of a hiccup on beam, I’m overall quite satisfied with my performance and I am just really appreciative of the opportunity to be here. Every competition is all a bit different, so I just try to keep my mind focused on what I can control and to perform my best.”
Competition aside, the Singaporean has enjoyed the time spent with her coach, Ye Lili, and her roommates – wushu exponent Ng Zhe Nin and paddler Loy Ming Ying first, and now archer Yeo and windsurfer Kate Teo.
Teo’s campaign started on 8 Nov as well, with the sailing event underway at Saly Beach.
Competitors in action during the windsurfing event at Saly Beach on 8 Nov. Photo: OIS/ Nic Bothma
Only windsurfing is contested at the sailing competition. After the first three races, Teo ranked sixth with 10 points in the women’s event – she was eighth in the first race and fifth in the second and third.
In the men’s event, fellow Singaporean Trevor Ng was 12th with 21 points after placing 10th in the first race, followed by 11th and 12th in the second and third respectively.
Trevor Ng is currently ranked 12th after Races 1-3 of the windsurfing event at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games sailing competition. Photo: OIS/ Felix Diemer
Sailors are awarded points corresponding to their respective placing under a “low point” scoring system where the winner of each race is awarded one point while the runner-up receives two points. Points from the worst race performance for each competitor are discarded and remaining points are added to determine the event placing.
Kate Teo during the windsurfing races at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games on 8 Nov. Photo: OIS/ Felix Diemer
Teo, who started windsurfing just last July, enjoyed the relatively light winds and flat water on the race course. The nerves she felt on shore turned to calm once she hit the water, as the 15-year-old explained that she was “really excited to race with the world”.
“My coach always says I’m a ganchiong spider. I always get very nervous about the races on shore and when we will launch,” she added.
“I actually don’t have a pre-race ritual. I just pray. I make myself so hyped up about the race that I forget all about the nerves and start to think about the race strategy. Going on water gives a sense of calm that I love and it’s great fun.”
Dakar 2026 is her first event outside Asia, and the fact that she would be competing here only kicked in after she received her kit.
Teo, who used to be a school swimmer, said: “Honestly, I couldn’t believe it for a few months. I’m also really proud of myself for making it this far. I have come a long way from learning to sail in a straight line to racing competitively on the world stage in just 1 ½ years.”
The windsurfing event continues on 9 Nov with Races 4-6.
The Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games takes place from 31 October to 13 November 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.
