Rainer Ng is Singapore’s backstroke specialist. The Raffles Institution student is the current holder of the national 100m backstroke record. At only 16 then, he broke Olympian David Lim’s 7,617 day record during the FINA Championships in Rome in 2009. He also smashed records at the 2010 “A” Division National Schools’ swimming championships. A double-bronze medallist at the 1st Asian Youth Games Singapore 2009, Rainer will be looking to pit his skills against the best in the world at the coming Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games.
The Play Times caught up with the affable youngster for a quick chat during his training break.
SingaporeSports.sg: When did you start swimming?
Rainer: I started to learn swimming when I was about four-years-old and I began training competitively when I was about nine-years-old.
SS.sg: What sparked your interest to start swimming competitively?
Rainer: When I watched my sister racing competitively, it really excited me and I wanted to be just like her.
SS.sg: What were your expectations going into the 1st Asian Youth Games Singapore 2009?
Rainer: I went into the Asian Youth Games just hoping to do my best and achieve a few personal bests. But at the back of my mind, I just wanted to do Singapore proud.
SS.sg: How do you intend to prepare yourself for the upcoming Guangzhou Asian Games?
Rainer: I intend to increase my physical strength and work on my endurance for the Guangzhou Asian Games. I will be training very hard so that I am able to give off my best and nothing else.
SS.sg: What do you hope to achieve in the future as a competitive swimmer?
Rainer: I hope to achieve times that no other swimmer in Singapore has ever achieved before. And leave a trail for other athletes to follow.
SS.sg: How have you been preparing yourself for the upcoming Youth Olympic Games?
Rainer: I have been competing in my events at many different meets to gain competition experience so that I can get comfortable with my event.
SS.sg: Who do you think are your strong competitors for the selection of the Youth Olympic Games?
Rainer: I believe all the athletes pose the same amount of competition to every other athlete. It is important not to underestimate any of them as everybody will be trying their very best to get selected for this Youth Olympic Games.
SS.sg: Who do you think will make up the swimming team to represent Singapore in YOG?
Rainer: I believe that the combination of swimmers that has the best medal chance will be selected for the Youth Olympic Games.
SS.sg: What is the most challenging part of having to juggle between your studies, trainings, family and friends?
Rainer: The challenging part is to prioritise which I need to spend more time in and sacrificing in the less important aspects in my life.
SS.sg: Do you have anyone you look up to, and why?
Rainer: I look up to my sister (former national swimmer, Lynette Ng) as she is my role model. She puts in 110% in all that she does and has the utmost commitment in everything that she does and that contributes to her success in all areas.
SS.sg: Besides swimming, what other sports are you active in?
Rainer: I am active in friendly games like basketball and football with my friends.