Marina Chan

Marina Chan
Personal information
Full name Nur Marina Chan Si Min Alif Abdullah
Nationality Singaporean
Born (1997-12-24) 24 December 1997[1]
Singapore[1]
Height 1.67 m (5 ft 6 in)[1]
Weight 55 kg (121 lb)[1]
Sport
Sport Swimming
Strokes freestyle, butterfly
Coach Gary Tan[2]

Marina Chan (born Nur Marina Chan Si Min Alif Abdullah on 24 December 1997) is a Singaporean freestyle and butterfly swimmer. Hailing from a prominent swimming family, Chan only took up the sport in her first year of high school.[2] She has represented her country at the FINA World Cup, Asian Games, Asian Swimming Championships, Commonwealth Games, Youth Olympic Games and the Asian Youth Games with her aim win a gold medal at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.[2]

Career

Chan was first selected to represent her country at the Singaporean leg of the 2010 FINA Swimming World Cup where, aged just 12, she competed in four events.[3] In July the following year, Chan set her first national under 17's record in the 4 × 100 metre freestyle relay at the 2011 ASEAN School Games[4][5] and finished the year by competing at the Stockholm, Moscow, Berlin and Singapore legs of 2011 FINA Swimming World Cup.

In June 2012, Chan won first major medal at the inaugural Southeast Asian Swimming Championships in Singapore. Swimming alongside Koh Hui Yu, Amanda Lim and Teo Jing Wen, the foursome won gold and the set the first Championship record in the 4 × 200 metre freestyle relay.[6][7] Less than a month later, at the 2012 ASEAN School Games in Surabaya, Indonesia, Chan as part of the team that took out the 4 × 100 metre freestyle relay. Posting a time of 3:56.55,[8] this shaved 0.69 seconds off the national under 17's record[5] and narrowly missed Thailand's meet record of 3:56.14. Chan also finished with a bronze in the 800 metre freestyle, stopping the clock at 9:15.12.[9]

During the Tokyo leg of the 2012 FINA Swimming World Cup, Chan set a personal best in the 50 metre freestyle of 26.46 seconds.[10][11] At the eighth and final leg in Singapore, Chan covered the distance in 26.45,[12] setting a new personal best by 0.01 seconds, eclipsing the time she set four days prior.[13]

After gaining valuable experience by competing in the Dubai Asian Swimming Championships in December 2012,[14] Chan won four silver medals at the 2013 Asian Youth Games in Nanjing. Individually, she was runner-up in the 50 metre[15] and 100 metre freestyle events.[16] She then teamed with up Samantha Yeo, Stacy Tan and Meagan Lim to come second in the 4 × 100 metre medley relay[17] and in the 4 × 100 metre freestyle relay, Chan with Yeo, Hoong En Qi and Rachel Tseng set a new national 17's record time,[18] bettering the previous record by 1.88 seconds.[19]

"I’m really happy and very satisfied with my swim and every time I break a record it just overwhelms me to know that I can do it. So I’m really happy because I believe I really did more than what I set out to achieve."

Marina Chan, 10 June 2014[20]

Chan started 2014 by claiming three individual gold medals and a silver at the 2014 Southeast Asian Age Group Swimming Championships in Singapore. Swimming in the 14–16 aged group, Chan won the 100 metre freestyle in 56.87[21] and the 50 metre butterfly in 27.91,[22] both new championship record and personal best times.[20] She also took out the 50 metre freestyle in 26.31 narrowly missing the championship record of 26.28 set by Thailand's Jenjira Srisaard in 2012.[23] Chan won her silver medal in the 200 metre freestyle. Finishing 2.12 seconds behind Vietnam's Nguyễn Thị Ánh Viên, Chan stopped the clock at 2:04.44 inside the old championship record of 2:04.65 set by Benjaporn Sriphanomthorn of Thailand in 2011.[24] Chan was also part of a Thailand clean sweep, taking out all three female relays in new championship record times. In the 4 × 100 metre freestyle Chan, Rachel Tseng, Christie Chue and Hannah Quek recorded a time of 3:54.66.[25] This also broke national under 17's record by one hundredth of a second.[19] In the 4 × 200 metre freestyle, Chan, Tseng, Chue and Jing Wen Quah smashed the meet record by over 9 seconds, lowering it to 8:30.84[26] and in the final event of the meet Chan with Tseng, Chue and Tan Jing-E just got home over Thailand in the 4 × 100 metre medley relay, posting a time of 4:20.25.[27] This time also shaved 0.12 seconds off the under 17's record.[28]

Two weeks later at the 2014 Southeast Asian Swimming Championships in Singapore, Chan won gold in the 50 metre butterfly in a new championship record and personal best time of 27.49.[29][30] Chan also won six silver medals and set a new personal best of 1:01.67 in the 100 metre butterfly.[31][32] One month later at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, Chan competed in six events[1] before heading to the 2014 Summer Youth Olympics in Nanjing in August where she reached the semifinals 50 metre butterfly[33] and the 50 metre freestyle.[34] In September, Chan competed at 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea, where in the final of 50 metre freestyle she achieved a new personal best time of 25.91, breaking the 26-second barrier for the first time.[35][36]

Personal life

Marina Chan comes from a prominent Singaporean family. She is the daughter of Bernard Chan, an Olympic swimmer and niece of Pat Chan, dubbed "Singapore's Golden Girl".[2] Her uncles Alex Chan and Roy Chan both represented Singapore in swimming at the Asian Games with Roy going on to earn the President's Scholarship.[37][38] Her other uncle is renowned composer Mark Chan and her aunt, Victoria Chan-Palay, is a neuroscientist who has worked in the United States and Switzerland. She is also the granddaughter of the decorated swimming coach Chan Ah Kow. When asked about her family's success and the pressure to live up to it, Chan replied "It's a family legacy and I should be proud of it. There' a bit of pressure, but in a good way. (But) I want to be my own swimmer."[39]

In July 2014, Chan was one of the 300 athletes to receive the Singapore Olympic Foundation Peter Lim Scholarship. Launched in 2010, the scholarship aims to provide financial assistance to outstanding young athletes from financially challenged backgrounds to facilitate their pursuit in sports excellence.[40] Upon receiving the award Chan stated that she will use it to focus towards how she is able to improve her training. "So with that financial help, I'll be able to go overseas for training camps. That is the type of support I need to push myself further."[41]

Personal bests

Below is Chan's personal best times.

Course Event Time Meet Location Date Ref
Long 50 metre freestyle 25.91 Asian Games Incheon 26 September 2014 [35][36]
Long 100 metre freestyle 56.87 SEA Age Group Championships Singapore 8 June 2014 [20][21]
Long 50 metre butterfly 27.49 SEA Championships Singapore 18 June 2014 [29][30]
Long 100 metre butterfly 1:01.67 SEA Championships Singapore 19 June 2014 [31][32]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Profile of Marina Chan". Glasgow 2014. 8 August 2014. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Toh Ting Wei (11 June 2014). "Marina keeps Chan name flying". The Straits Times. Singapore: Singapore Press Holdings. Retrieved 14 September 2014 – via AsiaOne.
  3. ↑ Neubronner, Shane (9 September 2010). "Singapore's young swimmers to feature in 1st leg of FINA World Cup". redsports.sg. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
  4. ↑ "Results of the women's 4 × 100 metre freestyle relay final at the 2010 ASEAN School Games" (pdf). Full results of the swimming at the 2010 ASEAN School Games. ASEAN Schools Sports Council. 18 July 2010. p. 7. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
  5. 1 2 "4 × 100 metre freestyle relay record" (pdf). List of Singaporean national girls under 17's long course swimming records. Singapore Swimming Association: 4. 6 June 2014. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
  6. ↑ "Results of the women's 4 × 200 metre freestyle relay final at the 2012 Southeast Asian Swimming Championships". Swimming World Magazine. Sports Publications International. 19 June 2012. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
  7. ↑ "SEA Swimming: Singapore win five golds on first day of championship". redsports.sg. 13 June 2012. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
  8. ↑ "Results of the women's 4 × 100 metre freestyle relay final at the 2012 ASEAN School Games" (pdf). Full results of the swimming at the 2012 ASEAN School Games. ASEAN Schools Sports Council. 3 July 2012. p. 18. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
  9. ↑ "Results of the girls' 800 metre freestyle final at the 2012 ASEAN School Games" (pdf). Full results of the swimming at the 2012 ASEAN School Games. ASEAN Schools Sports Council. 3 July 2012. p. 19. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
  10. ↑ "Results of the women's 50 metre freestyle heats at the Tokyo leg of the 2012 FINA Swimming World Cup" (pdf). Omega Timing. 6 November 2012. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
  11. ↑ "FINA Swimming World Cup 2012" (pdf). Free Style. Chinese Swimming Club: 2. January–February 2013. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
  12. ↑ "Results of the women's 50 metre freestyle heats at the Singaporean leg of the 2012 FINA Swimming World Cup" (pdf). Omega Timing. 10 November 2012. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
  13. ↑ "Personal bests set by female Singaporean swimmers at the Singaporean leg of the 2012 FINA Swimming World Cup". myswimresults.com.au. November 2012. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
  14. ↑ "Entry list of Singaporean women at the 2012 Asian Swimming Championships" (pdf). The 9th Asian Swimming Championships Results Book. Asia Swimming Federation. 16 November 2012. p. 84. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
  15. ↑ "Results of the girls' 50 metre freestyle final at the 2013 Asian Youth Games" (pdf). Nanjing 2013. 22 August 2013. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
  16. ↑ "Results of the girls' 100 metre freestyle final at the 2013 Asian Youth Games" (pdf). Nanjing 2013. 23 August 2013. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
  17. ↑ "Results of the girls' 4 × 100 metre medley relay final at the 2013 Asian Youth Games" (pdf). Nanjing 2013. 21 August 2013. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
  18. ↑ "Results of the girls' 4 × 100 metre freestyle relay final at the 2013 Asian Youth Games" (pdf). Nanjing 2013. 19 August 2013. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
  19. 1 2 "4 × 100 metre freestyle relay record" (pdf). List of Singaporean national girls under 17's long course swimming records. Singapore Swimming Association: 3. 6 June 2014. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
  20. 1 2 3 Rifhan, Khalis (10 June 2014). "Starlet Marina Chan shines at SEA Age Group Swimming Championships". voxsports.co. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
  21. 1 2 "Results of the girls 16–18 100 metre freestyle at the Southeast Asian Age Group Swimming Championships" (pdf). Full results of the 2014 Southeast Asian Age Group Swimming Championships. Singapore Swimming Association: 38. 9 June 2014. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
  22. ↑ "Results of the girls 16–18 50 metre butterfly at the Southeast Asian Age Group Swimming Championships" (pdf). Full results of the 2014 Southeast Asian Age Group Swimming Championships. Singapore Swimming Association: 18. 9 June 2014. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
  23. ↑ "Results of the girls 16–18 50 metre freestyle at the Southeast Asian Age Group Swimming Championships" (pdf). Full results of the 2014 Southeast Asian Age Group Swimming Championships. Singapore Swimming Association: 13. 9 June 2014. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
  24. ↑ "Results of the girls 16–18 200 metre freestyle at the Southeast Asian Age Group Swimming Championships" (pdf). Full results of the 2014 Southeast Asian Age Group Swimming Championships. Singapore Swimming Association: 15. 9 June 2014. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
  25. ↑ "Results of the girls 18 and under 4 × 100 metre freestyle relay at the Southeast Asian Age Group Swimming Championships" (pdf). Full results of the 2014 Southeast Asian Age Group Swimming Championships. Singapore Swimming Association: 28. 9 June 2014. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
  26. ↑ "Results of the girls 18 and under 4 × 200 metre freestyle relay at the Southeast Asian Age Group Swimming Championships" (pdf). Full results of the 2014 Southeast Asian Age Group Swimming Championships. Singapore Swimming Association: 14. 9 June 2014. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
  27. ↑ "Results of the girls 18 and under 4 × 100 metre medley relay at the Southeast Asian Age Group Swimming Championships" (pdf). Full results of the 2014 Southeast Asian Age Group Swimming Championships. Singapore Swimming Association: 46. 9 June 2014. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
  28. ↑ "4 × 100 metre medley relay record" (pdf). List of Singaporean national girls under 17's long course swimming records. Singapore Swimming Association: 4. 6 June 2014. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
  29. 1 2 "Results of the women's 50 metre butterfly final at the 2014 Southeast Asian Swimming Championships" (pdf). Day 2 finals results of 2014 Southeast Asian Swimming Championships. Singapore Swimming Association: 1. 18 June 2014. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
  30. 1 2 Wong, Erwin (18 June 2014). "SEA Swimming Championships: Nur Marina Chan meets two Asian Games 'B' qualifying marks". redsports.sg. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
  31. 1 2 "Results of the women's 100 metre butterfly final at the 2014 Southeast Asian Swimming Championships" (pdf). Day 3 finals results of 2014 Southeast Asian Swimming Championships. Singapore Swimming Association: 5. 19 June 2014. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
  32. 1 2 Koh Yizhe (18 June 2014). "SEA Swimming Championships Day 3: Danny Yeo and Darren Lim headline podium finishers". redsports.sg. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
  33. ↑ "Results of the girls' 50 metre butterfly semifinals at the 2014 Summer Youth Olympics" (pdf). Nanjing YOG 2014. 19 August 2014. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
  34. ↑ "Results of the girls' 50 metre freestyle semifinals at the 2014 Summer Youth Olympics" (pdf). Nanjing YOG 2014. 21 August 2014. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
  35. 1 2 "Results of the women's 50 metre freestyle final at the 2014 Asian Games". Incheon 2014. 26 September 2014. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
  36. 1 2 Lim Yong Teck (27 September 2014). "Asian Games Swimming: Singapore in action". redsports.sg. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
  37. ↑ "Swimmer Roy also shines in studies". The Straits Times. Singapore: Singapore Press Holdings. 13 March 1972. Retrieved 14 September 2014 – via NewspaperSG.
  38. ↑ "Roy to unveil plaque at Ocean Building". The Straits Times. Singapore: Singapore Press Holdings. 17 July 1974. Retrieved 14 September 2014 – via NewspaperSG.
  39. ↑ Low Lin Fhoong (16 September 2014). "Swimmer Marina keen to be her own woman". Today. Singapore: MediaCorp. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
  40. ↑ "Recipients of the Singapore Olympic Foundation-Peter Lim Scholarship hit the 1,000 mark". Singapore National Olympic Council. 7 July 2014. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
  41. ↑ Loke Kok Fai (11 July 2014). "More promising young athletes receive Peter Lim scholarship". Channel NewsAsia. Singapore: MediaCorp. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
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