Lee's turn to repay RGS

She represented Singapore at the 2001 South-east Asia (SEA) Games and last year, she returned to her alma mater to share her sailing know-how.

Leaving Raffles Institution in 2012 after a five-year spell with the school's sailing team, Chrislin Lee decided to join Raffles Girls' Secondary School, where she now teaches Physical Education (PE) and coaches the sailing team.

For Lee, it was her intention to return to RGS, with the aim of giving back to her former school.

"Coming back to RGS was a good thing. I wanted to return the favour, after all that the school has given me to help me achieve my sailing aspirations," said the 32-year-old, one of the nominees for the TNP-S Soocelaraj Award, which honours the best teacher-coaches in Singapore. "In turn, I hope to help the students achieve their sporting ambitions the way my coaches did during my secondary-school days."

The move seems to have paid off, with RGS finishing second in the Nationals in both the B and C Divisions this year.

She has also helped develop national sailors Jodie Lai, who won gold at July's Asian Games, and Samantha Yom, this year's Nanjing Youth Olympic Games champion.

A silver medallist in the 2001 Kuala Lumpur's SEA Games, Lee believes her experience as a professional athlete is something that has helped her get the best out of her charges.

"I used to sail not only for Singapore, but also for RGS, so that's a big boost in terms of motivating and leading them," she said.

"As a former student, I know how it's like to represent RGS, so there's some form of familiarity coaching-wise.

"They know my background as a former national athlete, so they're quite cooperative, and they listen to what I have to say."

Alina Wee, her colleague at RGS, acknowledged Lee's influence on the sailors, with her ability to relate to the students being a plus point.

Wee said: "She knows the stress the sailors are going through and thus, she is able to help them succeed. This helps her to advise the athletes and parents better through her wealth of sailing knowledge.

INSPIRATION

"Because of this, her sailors are able to look up to her for experience and as a source of inspiration. She is also very hands-on, and has helped them to better plan their time in managing studies and sports. That makes her a good role model."

For now, Lee is aiming to build on the team's success.

But, as someone who is all too aware of the pressures and difficulties that come with being a school athlete, she prefers not to put too much expectations on her students.

"For the team, generally, I want them to set their own targets and achieve them in their own time. Self-motivation is important," she said. "They are all of different levels and standards. So, as a team, we are all working hard to do our best.

"We don't really set too many targets. What's important is that they work well together and let the results show at the end of the day."