2-time Byte CII world champion Darren Choy sailing the high seas. (Photo: Marcus Chui)
Not many athletes are able to say that they are sitting pretty at the top of the world when they are all of 16-years-old.
Well, not unless you are Darren Choy.
If you went “Darren who?”, then perhaps it is about time that you sat up and took notice.
The teenager recently secured his second Byte CII world title at the 2010 Byte CII World Championships in Cannes, France, successfully defending the title that he won the previous year in Canada.
That incredible effort propelled him to pole position in the race for selection to represent Singapore at the inaugural Youth Olympic Games (YOG) which will be held in Singapore from 14 to 26 August 2010.
Not bad at all, for someone whose first sailing experience was in the Optimist seven years ago at the National Sailing Centre.
You probably would not have guessed that this young Singapore Sports School student used to harbour a phobia of being in the water.
These days, Darren is as confident as a fish in water.
Said the Asian Youth Games gold medalist: “When I’m at sea, I have no worries.”
Darren, however, did not plunge right into sailing from the start.
He initially experimented with badminton, and was only introduced to sailing by a teacher from his primary school.
He fell in love with it and from then on, there was only one sport in his life.
As a 15-year-old last year in Canada, he beat the 32-year-old defending champion, Briton Jon Emmett, to the coveted Byte CII crown.
That phenomenal feat, coupled with a win at the Asian Youth Games held in Singapore year, saw him clinch a nomination for The Straits Times Athlete of the Year Award 2010.
“I was really glad and honoured to be nominated alongside athletes like Feng Tianwei, Quah Ting Wen, Jasmine Ser, and Aleksander Duric. They are all great athletes in their own fields,” said the youngster.
With the Youth Olympic Games around the corner, the young sailing prodigy is already relishing the challenge of being able to perform in front of his home supporters and to hear the Majulah Singapura being heard at the National Sailing Centre, the venue for sailing.
And he has some advice for his fellow Team Singapore athletes who will be participating at the YOG: Enjoy whatever they do and put in their best at all times.
That, in essence, is his personal recipe to success.
-by Dennis Saw