Making Waves
Head coach of swimming at the Canadian International School HELEN SWEENEY tells us why the CIS swim team is a force to be reckoned with.
Our athletes have consistently graced the podium during the Athletic Conference of Singapore International Schools meets for High School and Middle School.
Beyond inter-school contests, one of our students, June, represented Belgium at the World Junior Surfing Championships in Brazil. Others are making waves as top 10 finishers of heats at the Singapore National Swimming Championships, including Ivan who secured an impressive sixth place.
Notably, CIS alumnus and former Husky swimmer Lanihei is setting her sights on the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics, having competed at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, and winning gold and silver medals at the 2023 Pacific Games.
In the Swimming World Cup in 2018, two Husky swimmers competed in the Singapore leg of the competition.
What makes the swim team so formidable?
• Skills and structure: At CIS, we’ve established a structured system of levels within the team. Each swimmer undergoes a tailored progression that ensures a well-rounded and competitive skill set.
• Team comradeship and culture: There’s a solid support system among team members, fostering a sense of unity. This camaraderie extends beyond the pool, creating an environment where everyone is motivated to excel.
• Expectations and accountability: We set clear expectations for attendance, skill development and performance levels.
• Coaching staff: We have some great coaches who instil technical knowledge and discipline. They also make training and long workouts fun and engaging for swimmers of every skill level.
How can a CIS student make it onto the swim team?
The swim team has seven training sessions per week, complemented by three gym sessions.
Students are eligible to join the swim club from Grade 3 onwards. To make it onto the swim team, they need to showcase specific abilities and meet certain criteria. These include possessing the endurance to swim 200 metres freestyle within a designated time interval, proficiency in the 100 metres individual medley and essential fundamental skills such as streamlined starts.
By meeting these criteria, students demonstrate their individual swimming capabilities and also their commitment to the standards set by the swim team, ensuring a well-prepared addition to the club.
About Helen Sweeney
Helen holds an Australian Advanced Coach certification and has imparted her knowledge to teams and schools across Asia. She has been Head Coach of the CIS swim team since 2017, and before that held the same role at other international schools in Singapore and Thailand.
Hear from a parent…
I’m a parent of three CIS swimmers, and the Huskies aren’t just another sports team, they’re our family. Coach Helen and her team are always there to support all our children. They’ve worked tirelessly to foster a kind, supportive and inspiring swim community within the school, from the excellence of our top swimmers, to encouraging and promoting commitment and perseverance in our junior and younger ECA swimmers.
– Melessa Tan, CIS parent since 2016
Canadian International School is at 7 Jurong West Street 41. 6467 1732 | cis.edu.sg