National University of Singapore's (NUS) Toh Wei Soong (Philosophy, Politics, and Economics, and University Scholars Programme, '23) is no stranger to staying ahead alongside a hectic academic and sports pace. The third-year student spends hours on Zoom attending lectures, then heads to the pool to practice for five to six hours daily — all in a day, every day.

By the time he set a national record in the men’s S7 50-metre butterfly final to qualify for the Tokyo Paralympics this year, Wei Soong was already a seasoned competitor in the national and international swimming scene. The NUS undergraduate came in fourth in the competition, narrowly missing a Paralympic medal by just 0.16 seconds, but that only made him more motivated to top his personal best.

“Being able to compete in Japan on that level and scale has always been a dream. For me, being on the paralympic level is a great achievement in itself,” he says.

Wei Soong began swimming when he was one and embarked on his first international competition in Berlin, Germany at the age of 15. It was after the competition that Wei Soong realised swimming was something he enjoyed and was good at. He added that he feels a sense of freedom when swimming, making it an easy decision to swim competitively.

However, swimming has not been his sole responsibility. Being a Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) student in NUS, Wei Soong often finds it hard to strike a balance between the two.

“There were a lot of challenges with school, especially with weekly quizzes and math-based modules,” says Wei Soong, sharing his experience starting out. “I definitely found it difficult to do both and maintain a social life at the same time. I do think I have missed out on some social experiences and felt pressured to do well at times.”

Wei Soong credits his supportive family, particularly his parents who are also swimmers, and his friends in the NUS community for helping him overcome such challenges. When asked for advice on how students can go about managing their studies and pursuing their passion successfully at the same time, Wei Soong, says: “Prioritise your time and plan your schedule wisely. Know what’s important for you. Take breaks when you need them. I think that helped me a lot.”

Moving forward, Wei Soong is planning on keenly competing for a spot at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. “I’m excited for Paris 2024. I might be given another shot and I am quite confident,” he says. “Three more years to go. And you’re going to see something big happen there.”