{"id":15289,"date":"2025-05-30T20:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-05-30T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hypesingapore.com\/?p=15289"},"modified":"2025-11-26T10:36:49","modified_gmt":"2025-11-26T02:36:49","slug":"against-the-current-how-a-national-water-polo-star-reinvented-herself-after-a-life-of-competition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hypesingapore.com\/index.php\/2025\/05\/30\/against-the-current-how-a-national-water-polo-star-reinvented-herself-after-a-life-of-competition\/","title":{"rendered":"\u00a0\u00a0Against The Current: How a National Water Polo Star Reinvented Herself After a Life of Competition"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n[et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; admin_label=&#8221;Header&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.21.0&#8243; use_background_color_gradient=&#8221;on&#8221; background_color_gradient_type=&#8221;circular&#8221; background_color_gradient_direction_radial=&#8221;top left&#8221; background_color_gradient_stops=&#8221;rgba(255,255,255,0.89) 30%|rgba(255,255,255,0) 80%&#8221; 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header_5_font_size_tablet=&#8221;14px&#8221; header_5_font_size_phone=&#8221;12px&#8221; header_5_font_size_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; text_text_shadow_style=&#8221;preset1&#8243; inline_fonts=&#8221;Montserrat&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Against The Current: How a National Water Polo Star Reinvented Herself After a Life of Competition<\/span><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; custom_margin=&#8221;-194px||||false|false&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_row admin_label=&#8221;Row&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; min_height=&#8221;84px&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;-80px|auto||auto|false|false&#8221; custom_margin_tablet=&#8221;&#8221; custom_margin_phone=&#8221;-145px|auto|-100px|auto|false|false&#8221; custom_margin_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; 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min_height=&#8221;112.8px&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;5px||-48px||false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;31px||0px||false|false&#8221; text_font_size_tablet=&#8221;&#8221; text_font_size_phone=&#8221;14px&#8221; text_font_size_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; transform_styles_tablet=&#8221;&#8221; transform_styles_phone=&#8221;&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; admin_label=&#8221;About Us&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.21.0&#8243; min_height=&#8221;1396px&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;-136px||-433px|||&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;107px||44px|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_row column_structure=&#8221;1_5,3_5,1_5&#8243; custom_padding_last_edited=&#8221;off|desktop&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.21.0&#8243; custom_margin=&#8221;-55px||||false|false&#8221; custom_margin_tablet=&#8221;&#8221; custom_margin_phone=&#8221;-35px||||false|false&#8221; custom_margin_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;2px|0|0px|0px|false|false&#8221; custom_padding_tablet=&#8221;|0px||0px||true&#8221; locked=&#8221;off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_5&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.21.0&#8243; text_font=&#8221;Montreal Medium||||||||&#8221; text_line_height=&#8221;1.5em&#8221; header_font=&#8221;||||||||&#8221; header_2_font=&#8221;Raleway|700|||||||&#8221; header_2_font_size=&#8221;50px&#8221; header_2_line_height=&#8221;1.4em&#8221; header_5_font=&#8221;Montserrat||||||||&#8221; header_5_text_color=&#8221;#b3b3b3&#8243; header_5_font_size=&#8221;14px&#8221; header_5_line_height=&#8221;0.5em&#8221; header_6_font=&#8221;Raleway|700||on|||||&#8221; header_6_font_size=&#8221;16px&#8221; header_6_letter_spacing=&#8221;5px&#8221; header_6_line_height=&#8221;1.8em&#8221; max_width=&#8221;659px&#8221; module_alignment=&#8221;center&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;0px|79px|104px||false|false&#8221; custom_margin_tablet=&#8221;&#8221; custom_margin_phone=&#8221;-40px|79px|0px||false|false&#8221; custom_margin_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;|0px||||&#8221; text_font_size_tablet=&#8221;&#8221; text_font_size_phone=&#8221;15px&#8221; text_font_size_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; header_2_font_size_tablet=&#8221;35px&#8221; header_2_font_size_phone=&#8221;25px&#8221; header_2_font_size_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; locked=&#8221;off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">BY<br \/><b>Dylan Teh<\/b><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Deputy Editor<\/b><\/p>\n<p><strong>Hype Issue #63<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<h5>Published on<\/h5>\n<h5>May 30,<\/h5>\n<h5>2025<\/h5>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;3_5&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.21.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_font=&#8221;Montreal Medium||||||||&#8221; text_font_size=&#8221;16px&#8221; inline_fonts=&#8221;Montreal Medium&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/hypesingapore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/XiaoLi_Teacher.jpg&#8221; alt=&#8221;Pet Sitter&#8221; title_text=&#8221;XiaoLi_Teacher&#8221; force_fullwidth=&#8221;on&#8221; src_last_edited=&#8221;off|desktop&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.21.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; min_height=&#8221;220.2px&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; src__hover_enabled=&#8221;off|desktop&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.21.0&#8243; text_font=&#8221;Montreal Medium||||||||&#8221; text_text_color=&#8221;#000000&#8243; transform_scale_tablet=&#8221;&#8221; transform_scale_phone=&#8221;&#8221; transform_scale_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; transform_translate=&#8221;0px|-22px&#8221; transform_translate_tablet=&#8221;&#8221; transform_translate_phone=&#8221;&#8221; transform_translate_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; transform_translate_linked=&#8221;off&#8221; transform_rotate_tablet=&#8221;&#8221; transform_rotate_phone=&#8221;&#8221; transform_rotate_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; transform_skew_tablet=&#8221;&#8221; transform_skew_phone=&#8221;&#8221; transform_skew_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; transform_origin_tablet=&#8221;&#8221; transform_origin_phone=&#8221;&#8221; transform_origin_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; transform_styles_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;31px||0px||false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;||||false|false&#8221; text_font_size_tablet=&#8221;&#8221; text_font_size_phone=&#8221;14px&#8221; text_font_size_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; transform_styles_tablet=&#8221;&#8221; transform_styles_phone=&#8221;&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Photo Credit: Koh Xiao Li<\/span><\/i><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.21.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_font=&#8221;Montreal Medium||||||||&#8221; text_text_color=&#8221;#000000&#8243; text_font_size=&#8221;16px&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;||0px|||&#8221; inline_fonts=&#8221;Montreal Medium&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Being an athlete in Singapore is no easy feat. From the sky-high expectations set by coaches, to endless scrutiny by the media. It\u2019s no wonder that most <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.channelnewsasia.com\/commentary\/serena-williams-retirement-age-athlete-tennis-sports-2917716\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">choose to retire in their late 20s or early 30s<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. But where do they go after that?<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Koh Xiao Li, 30, a former member of the national women\u2019s water polo team, once faced this dilemma. Growing up in a family full of swimmers, she spent her youth competing against her seven siblings for their parents&#8217; acknowledgement.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI want(ed) recognition. I always compare(d) myself to them.\u201d Reflecting upon her childhood, Ms Koh felt a sense of impostor syndrome.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\"><\/span><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.21.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_font=&#8221;Montreal Medium||||||||&#8221; text_text_color=&#8221;#000000&#8243; text_font_size=&#8221;16px&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;0px||2px|||&#8221; inline_fonts=&#8221;Montreal Medium&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<p><b>A Life Pitted Against the Rest<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It was for that very reason she decided to pick up swimming at the young age of four, kickstarting her competitive career in primary school and landing herself a place in Singapore Sports School\u2014 the only sports school in the country. There, she juggled an intense schedule of swimming practice twice a day while studying to pass her O-Level exams, eventually landing herself a spot in Temasek Junior College (JC) through Direct School Admission (DSA).<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It was at JC where the trajectory of Ms Koh\u2019s life changed forever.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThe teacher who interviewed me was asking if I wished to try water polo.\u201d She recounted. \u201cAs someone who [was] trying to go for an interview for a DSA sport, you obviously say yes because you want to be agreeable to everything, and hopefully they give you a place in the school.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While she initially sought the path of a swimmer, Ms Koh was swept up by the tide of her new sport, relishing its aggressive nature. However, there was another, more personal reason Ms Koh took up the sport.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Among her siblings was swimmer <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.teamsingapore.sg\/athletes\/koh-ting-ting\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Koh Ting Ting<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, 33,\u00a0 who made her competitive debut in the 2009 SEA (Southeast Asian) Games hosted in Laos and earned the recognition of her family and peers. Ms Koh admitted that her decision to pursue water polo was partially motivated by her drive to set herself apart from the rest of her siblings.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><\/span><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/hypesingapore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/XiaoLi-and-TingTing.jpg&#8221; alt=&#8221;Pet Sitter&#8221; title_text=&#8221;XiaoLi and TingTing&#8221; force_fullwidth=&#8221;on&#8221; src_last_edited=&#8221;off|desktop&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.21.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; min_height=&#8221;220.2px&#8221; locked=&#8221;off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; src__hover_enabled=&#8221;off|desktop&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.21.0&#8243; text_font=&#8221;Montreal Medium||||||||&#8221; text_text_color=&#8221;#000000&#8243; transform_scale_tablet=&#8221;&#8221; transform_scale_phone=&#8221;&#8221; transform_scale_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; transform_translate=&#8221;0px|-22px&#8221; transform_translate_tablet=&#8221;&#8221; transform_translate_phone=&#8221;&#8221; transform_translate_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; transform_translate_linked=&#8221;off&#8221; transform_rotate_tablet=&#8221;&#8221; transform_rotate_phone=&#8221;&#8221; transform_rotate_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; transform_skew_tablet=&#8221;&#8221; transform_skew_phone=&#8221;&#8221; transform_skew_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; transform_origin_tablet=&#8221;&#8221; transform_origin_phone=&#8221;&#8221; transform_origin_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; transform_styles_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;31px||0px||false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;||||false|false&#8221; text_font_size_tablet=&#8221;&#8221; text_font_size_phone=&#8221;14px&#8221; text_font_size_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; transform_styles_tablet=&#8221;&#8221; transform_styles_phone=&#8221;&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Koh Xiao Li (left) with her sister Koh Ting Ting (right). Photo credit: Koh Xiao Li<\/span><\/i><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.21.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_font=&#8221;Montreal Medium||||||||&#8221; text_text_color=&#8221;#000000&#8243; text_font_size=&#8221;16px&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;0px||2px|||&#8221; inline_fonts=&#8221;Montreal Medium&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hungry for acknowledgement, Ms Koh blazed her path forward and climbed the ranks of Temasek JC\u2019s women\u2019s water polo team and eventually was scouted to join the holy grail of sport in Singapore: the national team.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>Stormy Seas\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yet, it was during this time that Ms Koh faced a catastrophic roadblock in her professional career.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">In 2016, Ms Koh crushed her middle finger in a freak accident while training for the 10th Asian Swimming Championship held in Japan that year. \u201cI had a laceration and had to \u2026[have] four stitches on my finger,\u201d She lamented. \u201cAnd that was one week before they announced the team list.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While she managed to continue training at a reduced capacity, Ms Koh knew in her heart that the accident destroyed any chance she had at competing that year. In the end, her coaches decided that Ms Koh wouldn\u2019t be able to recover in time for the championship and chose another player.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWhen I received that piece of news, I just felt like maybe I should quit.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But Ms Koh pushed on, through sheer stubbornness and force of will, clawing her way back to the top and proving to her coaches that she still had it in her.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>A Rising Star<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ms Koh made her competitive debut representing Singapore in the 2017 SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur, where the team achieved a silver medal. However, like most athletes, this was not nearly enough for her.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI remember on the way home from the hotel towards the airport, I was telling myself that this is not all I have given. I have so much more to do. I&#8217;m going to train so hard, [and] come back even stronger in the next edition.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/hypesingapore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/KL2017.jpg&#8221; title_text=&#8221;KL2017&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.21.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.21.0&#8243; text_font=&#8221;Montreal Medium||||||||&#8221; text_text_color=&#8221;#000000&#8243; transform_scale_tablet=&#8221;&#8221; transform_scale_phone=&#8221;&#8221; transform_scale_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; transform_translate=&#8221;0px|-22px&#8221; transform_translate_tablet=&#8221;&#8221; transform_translate_phone=&#8221;&#8221; transform_translate_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; transform_translate_linked=&#8221;off&#8221; transform_rotate_tablet=&#8221;&#8221; transform_rotate_phone=&#8221;&#8221; transform_rotate_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; transform_skew_tablet=&#8221;&#8221; transform_skew_phone=&#8221;&#8221; transform_skew_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; transform_origin_tablet=&#8221;&#8221; transform_origin_phone=&#8221;&#8221; transform_origin_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; transform_styles_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;31px||0px||false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;||||false|false&#8221; text_font_size_tablet=&#8221;&#8221; text_font_size_phone=&#8221;14px&#8221; text_font_size_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; transform_styles_tablet=&#8221;&#8221; transform_styles_phone=&#8221;&#8221; locked=&#8221;off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Koh Xiao Li (right) with her mother (left) at the 2017 SEA Games. Photo Credit: Koh Xiao Li<br \/>.<\/span><\/i><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.21.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_font=&#8221;Montreal Medium||||||||&#8221; text_text_color=&#8221;#000000&#8243; text_font_size=&#8221;16px&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;0px||2px|||&#8221; inline_fonts=&#8221;Montreal Medium&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It was during her time in the national team where Ms Koh felt truly at home, forming deep bonds with like-minded friends within the water polo scene, as well as her fellow athletes who strived to achieve more and more as a team.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ms Koh recounted the highest point in her professional career being in 2019, just before the pandemic hit. She was given the opportunity to travel to Greece for three months and train with athletes there.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI got chosen for such a good opportunity to play among the best in the world. So it\u2019s a bit like that acknowledgement that comes from being selected.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/hypesingapore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Greece2019.jpg&#8221; title_text=&#8221;Greece2019&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.21.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.21.0&#8243; text_font=&#8221;Montreal Medium||||||||&#8221; text_text_color=&#8221;#000000&#8243; transform_scale_tablet=&#8221;&#8221; transform_scale_phone=&#8221;&#8221; transform_scale_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; transform_translate=&#8221;0px|-22px&#8221; transform_translate_tablet=&#8221;&#8221; transform_translate_phone=&#8221;&#8221; transform_translate_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; transform_translate_linked=&#8221;off&#8221; transform_rotate_tablet=&#8221;&#8221; transform_rotate_phone=&#8221;&#8221; transform_rotate_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; transform_skew_tablet=&#8221;&#8221; transform_skew_phone=&#8221;&#8221; transform_skew_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; transform_origin_tablet=&#8221;&#8221; transform_origin_phone=&#8221;&#8221; transform_origin_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; transform_styles_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;31px||0px||false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;||||false|false&#8221; text_font_size_tablet=&#8221;&#8221; text_font_size_phone=&#8221;14px&#8221; text_font_size_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; transform_styles_tablet=&#8221;&#8221; transform_styles_phone=&#8221;&#8221; locked=&#8221;off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Koh Xiao Li in Greece. Photo credit: Koh Xiao Li<\/span><\/i><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/i><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.21.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_font=&#8221;Montreal Medium||||||||&#8221; text_text_color=&#8221;#000000&#8243; text_font_size=&#8221;16px&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;0px||2px|||&#8221; inline_fonts=&#8221;Montreal Medium&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Finally, Ms Koh felt seen, acknowledged for the years of work she put in. She finally lived up to the seemingly insurmountable standards she set for herself, and earned the praise of her family and friends.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some might have hung up their boots right there, but not Ms Koh. No, she still had to go for the gold. The final mountain to conquer, finishing the story and attaining gold at the SEA Games.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>Breaking Point<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ms Koh and her teammates fought tooth and nail in the subsequent 2019 SEA Games in Philippines, and the 2023 SEA Games in Cambodia. But they kept on stumbling at the final hurdle against Thailand\u2019s water polo team.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Something broke within Ms Koh. At the time, she already had doubts about her future as a professional athlete, studying sports science in her free time in case she ever wanted to make a career switch.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cAt that point of time, training was always the same. I could predict what \u2026 the set [of exercises], what \u2026 the routine that we were going to do [was]. There was no adjustment or flexibility in the training.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Because she was studying sports science, Ms Koh recalls being more aware of how exercise and training affected her body, feeling immensely frustrated at the rigidity of the monotonous regime. \u201cWhy are we doing this? We are supposed to be, for example, [on] a down week right now, but we are still getting pushed to our limits and our bodies are breaking apart.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI was in a very bad state of mind, [so] I felt like I should give myself some time away from water polo.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ms Koh decided to retire from professional water polo in 2023 after competing in that year\u2019s SEA Games, much to the lament of those around her, particularly her teammates. They tried to persuade her to stay, thinking it was a waste if she quit now, as they just needed to train for two more years and fight back for the gold.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But Ms Koh had heard it all before, and she had set her mind straight.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>A New Path Forward<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ms Koh needed to forge a new path for herself, but where would she go? Well, she recounted how she took on swim-coaching at the Chinese Swimming Club as part-time work during her time in Temasek JC, recalling a sense of achievement after looking at how accomplished and happy her students felt after each lesson.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThat was what got me thinking that maybe I could be a teacher. But because of the swimming scene, I\u2019m only coaching swimming. I felt that there\u2019s more to give rather than just swimming.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After some soul searching, Ms Koh found herself applying to become an MOE-certified Physical Education (PE) Teacher.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The road ahead was anything but easy, with Ms Koh having to adjust many different aspects of her life to fit a teacher\u2019s daily schedule.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/hypesingapore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Teacher-Investiture.jpg&#8221; title_text=&#8221;Teacher Investiture&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.21.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; min_height=&#8221;258.3px&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;0px|||||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.21.0&#8243; text_font=&#8221;Montreal Medium||||||||&#8221; text_text_color=&#8221;#000000&#8243; transform_scale_tablet=&#8221;&#8221; transform_scale_phone=&#8221;&#8221; transform_scale_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; transform_translate=&#8221;0px|-22px&#8221; transform_translate_tablet=&#8221;&#8221; transform_translate_phone=&#8221;&#8221; transform_translate_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; transform_translate_linked=&#8221;off&#8221; transform_rotate_tablet=&#8221;&#8221; transform_rotate_phone=&#8221;&#8221; transform_rotate_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; transform_skew_tablet=&#8221;&#8221; transform_skew_phone=&#8221;&#8221; transform_skew_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; transform_origin_tablet=&#8221;&#8221; transform_origin_phone=&#8221;&#8221; transform_origin_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; transform_styles_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; min_height=&#8221;83.4px&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;31px||0px||false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;||||false|false&#8221; text_font_size_tablet=&#8221;&#8221; text_font_size_phone=&#8221;14px&#8221; text_font_size_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; transform_styles_tablet=&#8221;&#8221; transform_styles_phone=&#8221;&#8221; locked=&#8221;off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Koh Xiao Li at the Teachers\u2019 Investiture Ceremony 2024 Photo credit: Koh Xiao Li<\/span><\/i><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/i><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.21.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_font=&#8221;Montreal Medium||||||||&#8221; text_text_color=&#8221;#000000&#8243; text_font_size=&#8221;16px&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;0px||2px|||&#8221; inline_fonts=&#8221;Montreal Medium&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ms Koh also pointed out several differences between her now former job as an athlete compared to her new job as a teacher. \u201cIn teaching, there are 40 students waiting for you. And you might not know what they are thinking.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThey are asking different questions, and accidents might happen at any point of time. So I have to be flexible and adaptive.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While Ms Koh had some experience having to adapt on the spot, changing her thought process to fit younger, much more emotional students, was a hurdle in and of itself.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It was times like these where Ms Koh leaned on her experience as a professional athlete to wade the storm through her unshakable resilience.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Contrary to what others might think, the unpredictable and ever-changing nature of teaching was the fast-paced environment Ms Koh was seeking. \u201cI enjoy teaching more because I don\u2019t like routine.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">She also commented on how she feels more welcome during her lessons as students love PE. \u201cThey are very happy to get out of the classroom to enjoy playing with friends.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>Impostor Syndrome Begone<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Right now, Ms Koh\u2019s goal is to become a senior teacher, developing herself while staying in touch with kids.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">She no longer compares herself to her siblings and peers, realising that pitting apples against oranges was holding her back. \u201cI [told] myself that I shouldn\u2019t compete and I should just do my own thing and live life to the fullest. Whatever I am doing, I should just do my best and stop comparing.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If she could go back in time and speak with her past self, she would impart a lesson that she imparted upon her students.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cDon\u2019t overthink, everything will fall into place. Just do your best in whatever you do.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_5&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_sidebar _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_sidebar][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.21.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.21.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.21.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.21.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.21.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Against The Current: How a National Water Polo Star Reinvented Herself After a Life of Competition&nbsp; BYDylan Teh Deputy Editor Hype Issue #63 Published on May 30, 2025Photo Credit: Koh Xiao LiBeing an athlete in Singapore is no easy feat. From the sky-high expectations set by coaches, to endless scrutiny by the media. It\u2019s no [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":109,"featured_media":15296,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"2880","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[211,1159,47],"class_list":["post-15289","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nptribune","tag-hype","tag-hype-singapore","tag-singapore"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>\u00a0\u00a0Against The Current: How a National Water Polo Star Reinvented Herself After a Life of Competition - Hype Singapore<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Being an athlete in Singapore is no easy feat. 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