English Channel
Methodist Schools' Foundation officials, 'Community Swim' supporters share joy
THUM PING TJIN:
A double first -- for
him and Singapore.
-- Methodist Schools' Foundation picture.
TWENTY-FIVE-YEAR-OLD Thum Ping
Tjin has become the first Singaporean to swim across the English
Channel, and the first group of fellow Singaporeans who were just
as elated as he was were his sponsors, officials of the Methodist
Schools' Foundation, and his supporters who took part in a "Community
Swim" four days before he achieved his feat.
At around 4.45 am on Aug 7, 2005 Ping Tjin, or PJ, as he is known
to many, dimly discerned sand through the water and his fingers
hit the soft beach at Câp Gris Nez, France. He was then
aware that he had conquered the "Everest of swimming"
- the English Channel, a distance of 35km.
It had taken him 12 hrs, 24 mins and 12 secs of sheer agony and
determination, backed by what he told himself, over and over,
throughout his swim: "This is for Singapore" - which
he repeated for the waiting media.
He is the first Singaporean to accomplish this feat, symbolically
enough, two days before National Day 2005 - Singapore's 40th.
The Prime Minister praised him for pressing on through bad weather
and difficult conditions, showing fortitude and resolve. In his
letter of congratulations, Mr Lee Hsien Loong said that PJ's adventurous
spirit, boldness to take on a difficult challenge, and strength
to carry it through, were an inspiration to Singapore. He added
that Singapore may be a small country "but our people are
capable of great endeavours".
Bishop Dr Robert Solomon also sent a congratulatory letter to
PJ. He wrote: "I am delighted that you successfully swam
across the English Channel recently and made history for our nation
and the Methodist family in Singapore.
"Your determination and courage are greatly appreciated by
so many here and serve as an inspiring model for both young and
old. On behalf of The Methodist Church in Singapore, I would like
to convey my warm congratulations to you.
"Your brave attempt is also helping the Methodist Schools'
Foundation, which seeks to provide assistance to the education
mission of the church done through our schools. Thank you very
much for your labour of love."
An old boy of Anglo-Chinese School, an Olympian, and now a Rhodes
Scholar at Oxford University, PJ had to postpone the attempt twice
because of bad weather.
Methodist pastors, principals and students
among 309 in 'Community Swim'
to raise funds and lend support to PJ
But since it was impossible to postpone the Community Swim
at the Farrer Park Swimming Complex on Aug 3, it took place as
scheduled.
The event attracted 309 swimmers from Methodist schools and churches,
as well as from Balestier and Bendemeer Secondary Schools, an
excellent community effort as a concurrent fund-raiser for the
Methodist Schools Foundation (MSF) and a morale booster for PJ.
It was organised by the Methodist schools and sponsored by the
MSF.
The Community Swim epitomises the Methodist spirit of the Methodist
family. Methodist pastors, church members, school principals,
teachers, students and alumni members turned up at the swimming
complex, all excited that they were part of the swim organised
in support of PJ's swim across the English Channel.
Among those on the starting blocks
were MP Ong Kian Min, an ACS alumnus; the Rev Dr Norman Wong,
Director of Youth Ministries (TRAC) and Director, Ministry in
Schools; the Rev Dr John Barrett, Principal of ACS (International);
Mr Peter Tan, Principal of ACS (Junior); Olympian and ACS alumnus
Ang Peng Siong; and Paralympian medallist Theresa Goh.
Said Mrs Joni Ong, Chairman of the MSF: "We want to encourage
PJ and show him our full support by proceeding with this Community
Swim. We are telling him, 'Singapore is behind your effort …
'
The Community Swim started at 3.27 pm and ended at 10.29 pm -
7 hours and 2 mins.
Strong support at the "Community Swim" at
the Farrer Park Swimming Complex for PJ Thum. From left, MP Ong
Kian Min, Mrs Joni Ong,
the Rev Dr Norman Wong, the Rev Dr John Barrett, and Mr Peter
Tan. -- Methodist Schools' Foundation picture.
Although PJ had been training in England for around two months,
and bulking up with enough body fat to withstand the bone-numbing
waters (12°C - 17°C) of the English Channel from which
four had died from hypothermia and heart attacks, he was not
unprepared for the awful change in weather conditions he encountered
after the first three hours. His thoughts provide food for thought:
"It actually started out really
well. I had been confident of swimming it in under10 hours. In
retrospect, I was a little overconfident. I was easily holding
my10-hour pace until we unexpectedly hit some extremely rough
weather about three hours in. The waves came crashing down on
me and tossed me about like the insignificant speck that I was.
I was flipped about and the boat went up and down so much I thought
it was going to capsize. Such is the power of mother nature as
a great leveller. No matter who we are or how great we are, we
are all helpless before the great forces of nature.
"After battling this rough water for about an hour, I was
exhausted and ready to give up. I paused for a moment, treading
water and looking at the boat, and I decided to just swim a few
strokes more - I had to if I wanted to reach the boat, anyway.
I decided that I'd swim the few strokes, and then I'd think again
about giving up. After those few strokes, I decided to swim a
few more strokes. And then a few more. And a few more. Over the
next eight hours, I kept myself going by just swimming a few more
strokes at a time.
"This leads me to observe another great force: the human
spirit. Once mother nature had stripped me bare of pride and pretension,
all I had left was my determination and will to carry on and prevail.
I realised I could not defeat the terrible force of nature, only
hold on and keep slowly moving forward until such a time as the
fickle and capricious weather left me alone. Eventually the water
improved and I was able to slowly and exhaustedly carry on. Thus
is the second lesson of my crossing: that the human spirit in
its purest and humblest form is equal to anything in this world.
"On this journey I had a lot of help. I want to thank my
family and my friends for their unwavering support; my sponsors,
the Methodist Schools' Foundation, for being so committed to helping
me achieve this dream. Lastly, I must thank God for that little
push He gave me right at the end."
A FEW MORE STROKES … A FEW MORE … AND A FEW MORE
'I decided that I'd swim the few strokes, and then I'd think
again about giving up. After those few strokes, I decided to swim
a few more strokes. And then a few more. And a few more. Over
the next eight hours, I kept myself going by just swimming a few
more strokes at a time … '
'I must thank God for that little push He gave me right at the end'