Broadening Horizons In Sports And Beyond

Lessons from the Champions – Denise Ng, Career Talk by Olympian Ms Lim Heem Wei

From navigating cultural differences abroad to designing a board game that drives social awareness, or mapping out a future in the sports industry, this month’s assembly talks offered our student-athletes new global perspectives and powerful inspiration for the possibilities in the sports industry.


On 19 May 2025, the spotlight shone on IBDP golfer Denise Ng, who took us on a journey far beyond the golf course. As part of Lessons from the Champions (Global Edition), she shared how her international competition experiences, especially a memorable trip to New Orleans, transformed the way she sees the world.

New Orleans, with its soulful jazz, sugary beignets, and quaint horse-drawn carriages, served as more than a picturesque backdrop, it became a classroom of life lessons for Denise.

Between navigating daylight savings, adjusting her body clock, and squeezing in practice sessions, Denise picked up more than just time management skills. She discovered the importance of looking beyond stereotypes, and approaching different cultures with respect and open-mindedness.

In a particularly moving encounter, Denise also befriended a Native American family, a moment that reminded her of the deep stories every culture holds and the value of genuine human connection across borders.


The assembly didn’t end there. Denise was joined by 5 fellow IBDP student-athletes, Stefanie Lee, Clarissa Lee, Moulin Roxane Nicole Maya, Chia Xin Ying, and Clara Liaw, who unveiled their CAS project: Equity Escape. This creative, student-designed board game aims to be a tool to raise awareness about global inequality. Through the game, players learnt how unequal access to resources, opportunities, and power shapes lives around the world, inviting them to think critically while playing collaboratively.

 
Just a few days earlier, on 13 May 2025, our lower Secondary student-athletes were treated to an inspiring session with Olympian Ms Lim Heem Wei. From competing as Singapore’s first female gymnast at the Olympics to becoming a national coach, international judge, entrepreneur, and now a Sport Performance Manager at the High Performance Sport Institute, Ms Lim’s journey through the sports world is nothing short of extraordinary.

Her talk, facilitated by our Director of Sports, Mr Bernard Tham, gave students a glimpse into the dynamic landscape of Singapore’s sports industry. Ms Lim emphasised the diverse career paths available in sports, from athlete development and coaching to performance management and business. She encouraged student-athletes to think beyond the field or court, and to start considering how their talents and interests could shape future opportunities.