Toughest Part Of Sport

Open-water swimmer Chantal Liew's search for resolve

A photo of national open water swimmer Chantal Liew on Aug 4, 2020. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM
Some days, Chantal Liew comes out of the water near Changi smelling of oil, her body having collided with jellyfish. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM
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Out in the open sea, half-submerged on a sweltering day, the finish line nowhere in sight, tiredness coming in waves, competitors clattering into her, the current tugging her in the wrong direction, there's no coach, no physio, no parent to help open-water swimmer Chantal Liew.

Out there, on this undulating sheet of water, she's alone. Ten kilometres to go and only one ally.

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