Denise Chia competed in her first triathlon at the age of seven.

DENISE CHIA was encouraged to start competing in triathlons as a child and hasn’t looked back. 

Her biggest successes in the sport include representing Singapore at the 2014 Youth Olympic Games back in 2014 and qualifying for the SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur. Read on to hear about her aims for the race there and learn more about her triathlon journey.

When did you start out in triathlon and when was it you realised you had a real talent for the sport?

I started doing triathlon when I was seven years old – my parents signed me up for the Osim Singapore Triathlon back in 2004 and I won it by chance. 

I don’t think I have talent in triathlon actually! Back in 2004 I think I only won because triathlons weren’t as popular back then and the participation rate was low. Nowadays, I feel like I have to train a lot harder than others to achieve the same level of fitness, haha! 

Denise represented Singapore at the 2014 Youth Olympic Games back in 2014.

What have been your biggest successes in the sport to date?

I think my biggest success in the sport has to be representing Singapore at the 2014 Youth Olympic Games back in 2014. I was juggling junior college schoolwork on top of training for the Games back then, so I think it was some sort of a miracle that I managed to pull through. Although I was far from a medal, I think it was pretty cool that I even got the chance to represent Singapore at that level! 

I think my second biggest success to that would be qualifying for the SouthEast Asian Games (SEA Games) back in January this year. The actual SEA Games will be held in August.

How did you qualify for the SEA Games and will it be your first time competing at the Games?

The Triathlon Association of Singapore (TAS) held a qualifying race for Singaporean triathletes at East Coast Park early this year, where the top 2 females and top 2 males from the race would be nominated to represent Singapore at the SEA Games. I trained for about a year leading up to the qualifiers following a one-year hiatus from training while I was preparing for my A levels. 

I spent the first six months regaining my fitness and only decided to attempt to qualify for the SEA Games around June 2015 – fortunately it was a success, thanks to the excellent planning and encouragement my coach Mr Steven Quek. 

It will be my first time competing at the SEA Games; I did not participate in the qualifier for the 2015 Games as I was preparing for my A levels, and I was too young to participate in the Games back in 2013. 

Photo Luke Chua

How hard are you currently training and what are your aims for the Games in terms of finishing and what you can achieve there?

I’m currently only training about 7-8 times a week with the Newcastle Triathlon Club – trying my best to work around my school timetable! Furthermore, with it being winter in Australia right now, I’m finding it a little difficult to squeeze in trainings at appropriate times (the sun sets before 5pm, and it’s pretty cold nowadays – about 10 degrees or less after the sun sets). 

For the Games, I’m definitely gunning for the gold and no less.

Denise is aiming for Gold in Kuala Lumpur.

In which discipline of triathlon do you excel and in which area do you have to work the hardest?

I think I excel in cycling the most, and my cycling has improved even further here in Australia because of the unavoidable hilly terrain! 

I have to work the hardest for the run segment. I think my body isn’t built for running – I’m not particularly lean – but I believe training will get me where I need to be. However, it can sometimes get frustrating, especially when I meet people who don’t train their running as much but are able to run faster. Despite this, running remains my favourite segment of the triathlon because of how free it makes you feel. 

What are you plans for after the SEA Games and what other competitions and races do you have in your sights?

After the SEA Games I plan to focus on my studies and maintain some fitness while taking a short break from hard training! I plan to do some small races like the vertical marathon in Sydney, and maybe shift my focus from triathlon to more running-based competitions.