Overcoming Obstacles: Making The National Canoe Team Despite Heart Condition
Join KAYLA GOH as she talks to Gabriel Tang, the youngest paddler in the national team, and learns more about his journey and its challenges.
BY
Kayla Goh
Hype Deputy Editor
Hype Issue #58
Published on
April 17, 2024
Despite struggling with a heart condition, Gabriel Tang, 19, got into the national team for canoeing in 2023. His canoeing journey hasn’t been easy. Apart from his condition, there were many mental struggles that he had to overcome to get to where he is as well.
Gabriel’s paddling journey began in secondary school, when he joined canoeing as his Co-Curricular Activity (CCA) in school. He felt that he had a natural inclination towards the sport as he got a hang of the basics, such as balancing the boat, pretty quickly. Thus, he stayed in the CCA for all 4 years of his secondary school journey until he graduated in 2020.
Gabriel fell in love with canoeing in secondary school, but he never envisioned taking it to high performance. Photo taken from: Gabriel Tang.
In his second year of secondary school, he started participating in competitions, until Covid-19 struck in 2020. This made him reconsider his canoeing journey. “I was reaching my peak at the end of 2019, so I was really ready for the 2020 competitions,” Gabriel said. He wanted to see where he stood as the older B-division boys had graduated, especially since 2020 was his last year to compete in the division. “I thought I could at least make a mark, but it was cut short.”
Other factors such as his team being the underdogs compared to other schools and being the last canoeist left in the team (as the school decided to shut down the CCA) made him feel very lonely in training, hence, he decided to pursue another sport post-secondary.
This led him to join dragon boating when he enrolled into Ngee Ann Polytechnic in 2021. As Gabriel likes the adrenaline and rush of a team sport, he decided to give it a try and even took on captaincy in 2022.
Gabriel became the president of Ngee Ann Polytechnic’s dragon boat team in 2023. Photo taken from: Gabriel Tang.
Only in August 2022 did he return to his roots, when he joined Ngee Ann Polytechnic’s canoeing team because of some mutual friends. In preparation for the canoeing Polytechnic-ITE Games (POL-ITE) in November, he had to juggle both CCAs while managing the dragon boat team.
Eventually, his hard work paid off as he led his dragon boat team to second place while achieving double gold for canoeing in the POL-ITE Games 2022. Following this, he was offered a place in the national team for both canoeing and dragon boating. He chose to join the canoeing team and has been with them since February 2023.
Representing Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Gabriel attained double gold for canoeing in both 2022 and 2023 and a silver medal for dragon boat in 2022. Photo taken from: Gabriel Tang.
Gabriel’s achievements are just the tip of the iceberg, as he has put in a lot of hard work and faced many challenges to get this far.
Since birth, he has had a heart condition, pulmonary stenosis, which causes him to get tired and out of breath easily. “If I push past a point, my heart can stop,” Gabriel said. “It’s a disadvantage I have, but I make an effort not to [use] it as an excuse for myself… I just make sure I do more training to train my body to function better with a deformed heart.”
With this condition that limits his stamina, he continues to discover if it’s a mental limit or actually a physical limitation, while carefully pushing his boundaries. “Every training is slowly pushing up the threshold, slowly testing the limits,” Gabriel said.
When he was in both the dragon boat and canoeing CCAs, he did up to 14 training sessions a week. Photo taken from: Gabriel Tang.
There are times when Gabriel doubts himself, asking himself if it’s worth it to put his already damaged body through harsh training. “It doesn’t take one big race that I lost to make me rethink my canoeing journey,” he explained that even a hard training session where he’s in pain and feels very tired can make him reconsider everything.
Another mental challenge, one that he is still learning to overcome, is comparing himself to others. “In the national team, I’m far from being the fastest,” Gabriel said. Being in the team, he faces greater pressure and expectation to outperform those who are not in the team and to be the fastest within the team. Hence, when he sees the gap between him and the faster paddlers, it makes him reconsider if he’s deserving to be in the team.
As part of the national team for canoeing, Gabriel attends 10 training sessions a week. Photo taken from: Gabriel Tang.
Despite all these challenges, every time he balances the pros and cons and realigns the goals and expectations he has placed on himself, he still chooses to press on. “I’m just very proud of myself when I know I still showed up, I still made it through the programme, … when I felt like I was going to die. That’s a motivation for myself to continue pushing,” Gabriel said, feeling that this is his greatest achievement.
To those looking to follow in Gabriel’s footsteps and become national athletes, he has this to say. “Hard work will beat talent nine out of ten times…If you have the passion for the sport and representing Singapore, just go for it, no matter how bleak it looks for you. Just give it a shot and continue showing up every day for yourself.”
The level of my admiration for your work matches your own. Your sketch is aesthetically pleasing and your authored content is impressive. Nonetheless, you appear to be concerned that you may be heading in a direction that causes some unease. I concur that you will be able to address this quickly and get back on track.
พิ่ม Impression (การมองเห็น) จาก User มากขึ้น บางคนอาจคิดว่าแค่มีโปรโฟล์ มีเพจใน Facebook แล้วลูกค้าจะเข้ามาสนใจสินค้าเองก็มีโอกาสเป็นไปได้อยู่บ้าง ปั้มไลค์เฟสแต่คงจะดีกว่าหากคุณมีใช้บริการ ปั้มไลค์เฟส นอกจากจะช่วย ปั้มไลค์ ให้คุณมียอดไลค์ล้นหลามแล้ว ยังเพิ่มการมองเห็นทำให้ลูกค้าเกิดความสนใจเข้ามาซื้อสินค้ามากกว่าเดิม ทำให้มี Reliable (มีความน่าเชื่อถือ) ในการนำเสนอสินค้า หากคุณเพิ่งมีหน้าร้านออนไลน์อย่าง
Thank you for the auspicious writeup It in fact was a amusement account it Look advanced to more added agreeable from you By the way how could we communicate
Kadıköy elektrikçi olarak kadıköy ilçesine yakın bir konumdayız. Hizmetlerimizi en iyi ekipmanlar ile en uygun fiyatlara yapıyoruz Kadıköy Elektrik Ustası. Kadıköy merkez ve kadıköyün bütün mahallerine profosyonel hizmet kalitesi ile hizmet veriyoruz. https://kansabook.com/ustaelektrikci
Şişli elektrik tesisatı Şişli’de evime LED aydınlatma sistemleri kurdurmak için bu firma ile çalıştım ve sonuçtan çok memnun kaldım. Profesyonel ekip ve kaliteli hizmetleri için teşekkür ederim. https://thechirobar.com/?p=302629
Your writing is a true testament to your expertise and dedication to your craft. I’m continually impressed by the depth of your knowledge and the clarity of your explanations. Keep up the phenomenal work!
Bwer Pipes: Your Key to Agricultural Success in Iraq: Count on Bwer Pipes to provide you with high-quality irrigation solutions designed to meet the demands of Iraqi farming. Our cutting-edge sprinkler systems and reliable pipes ensure precise water distribution, contributing to healthier crops and increased profitability. Visit Bwer Pipes
Bwer Pipes: Innovating Agriculture in Iraq: Explore Bwer Pipes for top-of-the-line irrigation solutions crafted specifically for the needs of Iraqi farmers. Our range of pipes and sprinkler systems ensures efficient water distribution, leading to healthier crops and improved agricultural productivity. Explore Bwer Pipes
Ümraniye batarya montajı Ümraniye Su Kaçağı Tespiti Nedir?Su Tesisat Kaçakları olarak Su Kaçağı Tespiti işlerinde uzman kadrosuyla ve kaliteli hizmet anlayışıyla Ümraniye hizmet ver https://www.juridixia.club/?p=21192
“Appreciate the tips shared in this post about carpet care. At Teppich Reinigung München, we take pride in offering top-notch carpet cleaning services that restore the beauty and freshness of carpets. We’re committed to delivering satisfaction to our clients in Munich.”
Your post is amazing and well-written. I’m eager to read more from you in the future.
I do agree with all the ideas you have introduced on your post They are very convincing and will definitely work Still the posts are very short for newbies May just you please prolong them a little from subsequent time Thank you for the post
I was recommended this website by my cousin I am not sure whether this post is written by him as nobody else know such detailed about my trouble You are amazing Thanks
먹튀검증사이트: https://www.bk-story.org/
This article was incredibly insightful! I was captivated by the thoroughness of the information and the clear, engaging way it was delivered. The depth of research and expertise evident in this post is remarkable, significantly elevating the content’s quality. The insights in the opening and concluding sections were particularly compelling, sparking some ideas and questions I hope you will explore in future articles. If there are any additional resources for further exploration on this topic, I would love to delve into them. Thank you for sharing your expertise and enriching our understanding of this subject. I felt compelled to comment immediately after reading due to the exceptional quality of this piece. Keep up the fantastic work—I’ll definitely be returning for more updates. Your dedication to crafting such an excellent article is highly appreciated!
I don’t know how I ended up here, but I thought this post was excellent. I have no idea who you are, but you will become a well-known blogger very soon if you aren’t already. Salutations.
This piece was incredibly enlightening! The level of detail and clarity in the information provided was truly captivating. The extensive research and deep expertise evident in this article are truly impressive, greatly enhancing its overall quality. The insights offered at both the beginning and end were particularly striking, sparking numerous new ideas and questions for further exploration.The way complex topics were broken down into easily understandable segments was highly engaging. The logical flow of information kept me thoroughly engaged from start to finish, making it easy to immerse myself in the subject matter. Should there be any additional resources or further reading on this topic, I would love to explore them. The knowledge shared here has significantly broadened my understanding and ignited my curiosity for more. I felt compelled to express my appreciation immediately after reading due to the exceptional quality of this article. Your dedication to crafting such outstanding content is highly appreciated, and I eagerly await future updates. Please continue with your excellent work—I will definitely be returning for more insights. Thank you for your unwavering commitment to sharing your expertise and for greatly enriching our understanding of this subject.
This piece was incredibly enlightening! The level of detail and clarity in the information provided was truly captivating. The extensive research and deep expertise evident in this article are truly impressive, greatly enhancing its overall quality. The insights offered at both the beginning and end were particularly striking, sparking numerous new ideas and questions for further exploration.The way complex topics were broken down into easily understandable segments was highly engaging. The logical flow of information kept me thoroughly engaged from start to finish, making it easy to immerse myself in the subject matter. Should there be any additional resources or further reading on this topic, I would love to explore them. The knowledge shared here has significantly broadened my understanding and ignited my curiosity for more. I felt compelled to express my appreciation immediately after reading due to the exceptional quality of this article. Your dedication to crafting such outstanding content is highly appreciated, and I eagerly await future updates. Please continue with your excellent work—I will definitely be returning for more insights. Thank you for your unwavering commitment to sharing your expertise and for greatly enriching our understanding of this subject.
My brother recommended I might like this web site He was totally right This post actually made my day You cannt imagine just how much time I had spent for this information Thanks
먹튀검증사이트: https://m-today.net/
먹튀검증사이트 먹튀투데이: https://m-today.net/
Excellent blog here Also your website loads up very fast What web host are you using Can I get your affiliate link to your host I wish my web site loaded up as quickly as yours lol
Thank you I have just been searching for information approximately this topic for a while and yours is the best I have found out so far However what in regards to the bottom line Are you certain concerning the supply
Just wish to say your article is as surprising The clearness in your post is just cool and i could assume youre an expert on this subject Fine with your permission allow me to grab your RSS feed to keep updated with forthcoming post Thanks a million and please keep up the enjoyable work
I loved as much as you will receive carried out right here The sketch is tasteful your authored subject matter stylish nonetheless you command get got an edginess over that you wish be delivering the following unwell unquestionably come further formerly again as exactly the same nearly very often inside case you shield this hike
Your blog is a beacon of light in the often murky waters of online content. Your thoughtful analysis and insightful commentary never fail to leave a lasting impression. Keep up the amazing work!
Its like you read my mind You appear to know so much about this like you wrote the book in it or something I think that you can do with a few pics to drive the message home a little bit but other than that this is fantastic blog A great read Ill certainly be back
Somebody essentially help to make significantly articles Id state This is the first time I frequented your web page and up to now I surprised with the research you made to make this actual post incredible Fantastic job
insuranceyour authored material stylish. nonetheless,
I loved as much as you will receive carried out right here. The sketch is tasteful, your authored subject matter stylish. nonetheless, you command get got an edginess over that you wish be delivering the following. unwell unquestionably come further formerly again as exactly the same nearly very often inside case you shield this hike.
auto insuranceyour authored subject matter stylish. nonetheless,
Fantastic site. Lots of helpful information here. I am sending it to some friends free brazzers videos https://brazzers.pw/
I like your writing very so much! proportion we keep up a correspondence extra approximately https://brazzers.pw/ free brazzers videos
Exceptionally engaging portion of your content! I recently discovered your blog and, with enthusiasm, I must declare that I’ve thoroughly relished perusing your blog posts. I’m eager to subscribe to your updates and look forward to consistently swift access. By the way I am a vlogger @ 5 Healthy Habits that Changed my Life Forever.
Somebody essentially lend a hand to make significantly articles Id state That is the very first time I frequented your website page and up to now I surprised with the research you made to make this actual submit amazing Wonderful task
I do not even know how I ended up here but I thought this post was great I dont know who you are but definitely youre going to a famous blogger if you arent already Cheers
I have been browsing online more than three hours today yet I never found any interesting article like yours It is pretty worth enough for me In my view if all website owners and bloggers made good content as you did the internet will be a lot more useful than ever before
Temp Mail Good post! We will be linking to this particularly great post on our site. Keep up the great writing
you are in reality a just right webmaster The site loading velocity is incredible It seems that you are doing any unique trick In addition The contents are masterwork you have performed a wonderful task on this topic
I loved as much as you will receive carried out right here The sketch is attractive your authored material stylish nonetheless you command get got an impatience over that you wish be delivering the following unwell unquestionably come more formerly again since exactly the same nearly a lot often inside case you shield this hike
Temp Mail I am truly thankful to the owner of this web site who has shared this fantastic piece of writing at at this place.
Sportsurge I appreciate you sharing this blog post. Thanks Again. Cool.