In 1896, the Aegean breeze kissed the first Olympic waves in human history. Fourteen national flags fluttered beneath the Acropolis in Athens, as 241 warriors etched an eternal mark in the river of time with nine sporting events—”Citius, Altius, Fortius.”
These three Latin words are like ancient seashells that, even a century later, still echo with the surging tides. Among these nine sports, swimming perfectly embodies the soul of the Olympics, and indeed of sport itself:
it is this spirit of constantly pushing one’s limits and daring to strive that has carried humanity through the long years, evolving into the world we know today.
In April this year, the SISAC swimming competition was held as scheduled. Over 200 athletes from different schools gathered together, striving to win the championship honor for their respective schools.
Led by teachers Igor and Bob, eight members of our school’s swimming club volunteered to compete against other students at SWIS.
Compared to other schools, our small team of eight might have seemed outnumbered, but every one of us was determined to win, pouring our full strength into every stroke.
Throughout this fierce competition, many moments stood out as particularly moving:
When Kaidy and I had just finished the 4x100m freestyle relay, barely catching our breath before rushing to the registration desk for the next event—the 200m individual medley— that was the embodiment of Fortius (Stronger);
when I saw Ken and Dora, our team captains, signing up for multiple events without hesitation, pushing their limits— that was the manifestation of Altius (Higher);
when I watched every teammate meticulously refining their dives, analyzing the efficiency and technique of every stroke— that was the pursuit of Citius (Faster).
Though we were few, our spirit was unbreakable. Each of us, in our own way, brought the Olympic creed to life in the pool.
In the end, through relentless effort, we secured the championship with a 20-point lead over the second-place team.
The moment we lifted the SISAC trophy, though exhaustion weighed heavily on us from the long battle, our personal breakthroughs, team pride, and the honor we brought to our school became an invisible force—lifting our spirits as we raised the championship cup high.
For me personally, swimming has been an incredibly grueling journey. I began training at the age of seven, and the sound of the coach’s whistle signaling an extra 1,000 meters was my weekly dread.
Yet, I persevered—and in doing so, forged a resilience that has carried me through challenges I once thought insurmountable. The discipline and endurance built in the pool have given me an unshakable mental fortitude, a well of extra strength to draw from when facing life’s toughest trials.
This SISAC competition was not just a demonstration of the sporting spirit mentioned above—it also brought our swim team closer together and allowed us to experience the profound pride that comes with achieving victory as a team.
In the end, we extend our gratitude to all our teammates and coaches, as well as to the sport of swimming itself, which has not only strengthened our bodies but also taught us how to face life and its challenges with resilience.
Here are some words from our team members—
To SCIE Swimming Team:
01 Fancy
Swimming might be the thing I’ve stuck with the longest besides breathing, sleeping, and eating. As a former swimming club captain, I still remember rushing to ask seniors about the club on my very first day at SCIE in G1.
Later, as president, our Friday 3:30 PM meetups at the East Gate never wavered. From city level championships to IYSC to SISAC, I could (without exaggeration) recite everyone’s main events, PBs, every post-prize-money celebration meal, and the electric energy of every relay (who doesn’t love relays?!).
Now, suddenly, I’m in A2. Naturally, swimming made it into my university applications. If you’d asked me years ago to write about it, I’d have just talked about personal stuff—training, hitting time standards, winning gold. But these four years taught me to see swimming on a collective level. Even though it’s an individual sport, our SISAC results prove it: Together, we’re a wildfire; apart, we’re stars lighting up the sky.
I don’t wanna say bye, but it’s now up to Dora and Ken to lead you all toward a three-peat next year! Incoming G29s, look for these two legends—and veterans, if you’re up for a challenge, they’ve got you covered. 🙂
Last but not least, since I’ve finally made it onto the official WeChat post—Dear teachers, I’ve emailed for four years straight, rejected every time.
Any chance swimming club could get upgraded to varsity status? We’ve even got “SCIE” in our name—just make it official already, pretty please? Thank you thank you thank you.
02 Dora
This is the first time I stand on the competitive swimming stage as both a captain and a club president. It is not only a unique experience and opportunity but also a profoundly significant milestone on my journey of growth.
This marks my sixth year engaging with the water, and whenever I reflect on the memories of the past, I am filled with endless emotion.
At the age of eleven, I began formal training—transforming from a clueless child who could only doggy paddle to someone who now stands on the podium. All this happened in just five or six short years. To me, swimming has long transcended being merely a sport.
It has not only taught me a skill but also imparted invaluable life lessons, making me more resilient and instilling in me the spirit of never giving up.
The quiet 5:30 AM swimming pool, the thrice-daily training sessions during summer breaks, the three weekly strength-training sessions, and the intensity of every practice—these are my most treasured memories with swimming.
Rewatching the footage of the 200-meter relay, every frame still stirs my emotions. The splashes created by the teammates’ fierce strokes gained the meaning of victory the moment their fingertips touched the touchpad.
In this year’s SISAC competition, our small team of only eight members radiated an incredibly powerful force.
As captain, I hope to sustain the glory of the SCIE Swim Team over these past two years and keep our trophy where it belongs!
I sincerely wish for our team to continue thriving and look forward to more students joining our loving community, writing new and exciting chapters together in the pool!
03 Ken
After Fancy graduates, I will become the longest-serving member of our team.
Of my 12 years in competitive swimming, four have been spent here at SCIE. I’ve witnessed three generations of captains, welcomed new teammates, and said farewell to others.
I’ve competed in many SISAC tournaments for different schools—and every team I’ve been part of has won. But none were like SCIE.
Here, even when outnumbered or outswum, even when rivals taunted us after defeats, it was this team’s refusal to surrender—every member’s relentless fight—that let us defy the odds.
Twice now, we’ve claimed overall victory with just eight swimmers against squads twice our size.
Next year will be my final season wearing SCIE colors. My last wish? A three-peat championship—and for more of you to join this legacy. Let’s keep SCIE on top, where it belongs.
04 Kaidy
I’m truly honored to have the chance to represent our school in the SISAC Swimming Competition this time. Although the competition was postponed for a few months, we finally achieved excellent results, winning the first place in the overall score and numerous other awards.
Here, I’d like to express my sincere gratitude to Bob Dewet and my teammates. Since my swimming skills aren’t particularly outstanding, I made a mistake in the last leg of the team event. However, my coach and teammates kept encouraging me all the way.
Finally, I think this competition was a great opportunity for me to grow. It made me feel the unity of our SCIE swimming team and also made me realize my technical deficiencies. I’m confident that we’ll create even better achievements next time!
05 Angelina
Swimming the SISAC meet meant a lot to me as a freshman and taught me lessons far beyond swimming.
Although winning does matter, but the meet was much more about getting along with challenges, appreciating both the small and big victories, and looking beyond the pool. What really stood out to me, though, was the inspiring team spirit.
From cheers during relays to congratulations after each swim, the team had always been my greatest comfort throughout this journey.
Looking back, I felt incredibly grateful for everything and especially the team and our coaches, who had put a lot of effort into this win. Let’s go SCIE!
- Article / Steven Li
- Cr. Angelina Stella Dora Kaidy Ken Peter
