Last week, Garden International School hosted the SEASAC Swimming Championships for the first time in its history. Sixteen schools from across Southeast Asia travelled to Kuala Lumpur, bringing hundreds of swimmers, coaches, and supporters to campus for three days of competition that was as spirited as it was serious.
The timing could not have been better. The championship marked a major moment for the school’s new sports complex, with its Olympic-sized swimming pool taking centre stage. Built to host competition at the highest level of school sport, the facility finally had its moment, and proved more than capable of hosting an event of this scale.
Without further ado, let’s dive in:
A Pool Powered by Chlorine and School Spirit
What stood out most across the week was the atmosphere. Races are fast, the stakes are high, but the camaraderie is just as strong. Students lined the pool deck and stands between events, cheering loudly for teammates and often for competitors from other schools too.
There is something unmistakable about the sound of a swim meet in full swing. Starting horns, splashing turns, and a chorus of teammates willing swimmers down the final metres. Many athletes had travelled long distances to compete, and it showed in the focus they brought to every race. The competition was intense, but the tone remained generous and communal throughout.
GIS Dragons Make History
In the water, the GIS Dragons delivered a performance that will be remembered for years. The boys’ team were crowned SEASAC Champions, marking the first SEASAC championship title for GIS in any sport in the past twenty years.
Several swimmers made a splash individually. E-An Lee claimed gold in both the 50m Freestyle and 100m Freestyle while breaking the SEASAC meet records in each event, and added a bronze in the 50m Butterfly. Joshua Lim dominated the butterfly events, winning gold in the 50m, 100m, and 200m Butterfly while finishing third overall in the Boys’ Top Point Scorer standings.
The medals kept coming. Max Tang secured bronze in the 400m and 800m Freestyle. Masato Fujimoto earned silver in the 200m Butterfly. Chee Wai Lim collected silver in the 50m and 100m Backstroke along with bronze in the 200m Backstroke. Qin Lynn Chiew captured bronze in both the 200m and 100m Freestyle. Ian Ng added silver in the 200m Breaststroke and bronze in the 100m Breaststroke, while Bo Yu Hew took silver in the 200m Individual Medley.
Relay teams helped power the Dragons to the championship. The boys won gold in both the 4x50m and 4x100m Medley Relays, silver in the 4x50m Freestyle Relay, and bronze in the 4x100m Freestyle Relay.
The girls’ team also delivered a strong showing, finishing seventh overall among the sixteen schools competing, with Qin Lynn Chiew’s two bronze medals highlighting a determined campaign.
Chasing the Current
Hosting SEASAC for the first time was no small undertaking, but the week proved what the GIS community can accomplish together. From volunteers and organisers to students filling the stands, the event had the energy of a school fully behind it.
Three days, sixteen schools, one Olympic-sized pool, and a championship banner for the Dragons. Not bad for a first dive.
If your child thrives in the water, enjoys competitive sport, or simply wants to be part of a school community that celebrates events like SEASAC, we would love to hear from you. Our friendly admissions team is ready and available to help with any enquiries!
