BUKIT JALIL: Seventeen-year-old Carmen Lim makes it a practise to say a little prayer each time before she dives into the pool.
“It makes me feel better when I say a little prayer,” said the para-athlete born with one arm.
It was just three years ago when Carmen’s mother, at the age of 49, passed away from a heart ailment.
Carmen added that not a day goes by that she does not think of her mother, Angie Ng.
However, it was only last year when she mustered enough courage to share photos of her and her mother on Instagram, caption with personal messages to her mother.
In an interview with the New Straits Times here today Carmen said swimming has taught her not give up, even when things gets difficult.
“When I dive in the pool, I strive to reach the wall as fast as I can. I have trained hard for this. I hope to win,” she said, as she prepares for the Para Asean Games 2017.
Next week, Carmen will compete in the 100m backstroke, 50m and 100m freestyle. Her best event is the 50m freestyle.
It wasn’t too long ago when Carmen stunned a bored-looking audience at the Singapore Aquatics Hub when she won gold at the Para Asean Games 2015.
Having celebrated her 15th birthday a few weeks before the games, she barely qualified the minimum age to compete internationally.
As the youngest in the 50m freestyle of S8 category, she clocked in an impressive 39.14s, surpassing 45-year-old seasoned swimmer Thongbai Chaisawas of Thailand.
At that time, Malaysia’s Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin spoke with pride about Carmen as he presented deserving incentives to medal-clinching Paralympic athletes.
“Our Para swimmers did well with three new Games records. The amazing performance by our young debutants such as Carmen Lim proved we’re not short of great talents in the Paralympic sporting scene,” Khairy was reported to have said.
Last year, at the Malaysia Paralympiad held in Kuching, Carmen surged ahead to smash four national records, over three days. Her amazing feats garnered her the overall Sports Girl Award.
Carmen’s father Lim Chee Kiong, who was observing from the pool side, said her love for competitive swimming became apparent five years ago.
“As much as possible, my late wife, Angie Ng and I, wanted to prepare Carmen for all the things that could happen to her in the future. When Carmen was in kindergarten, she would play in the water with other children,” he said.
“It was at Sri KL School that Carmen showed strong potential for competitive sports. That was when Angie enrolled her to swim along with able-bodied swimmers,” he added.
Lim went on to say Carmen is also doing well in her studies. “She is determined to score in her O-levels this December because she is looking forward to boarding school in the UK, starting January 2018, to pursue her A-levels.”
Today, Carmen is regarded an emerging Para swimming champion in Malaysia.
“Carmen’s determination is an inspiration to our team because she steps up to all the challenges,” said Loke Chee Heng, who is manager of Team Malaysia Para swimmers at the Games.
“I’ve coached Carmen for five years. Despite her being one-armed, I have always taught Carmen as a mainstream swimmer,” Loke told the New Straits Times today.
“For the past year, Carmen has participated in the International Paralympic Council sanctioned swimming meets in Croatia, the Netherlands and Portugal. Her timings have improved significantly,” he said.
“I’m quite confident she can win two gold medals in the 50m and 100m freestyle events next week,” Loke added.
When Carmen is not at international and home meets, she spends much of her time training at her school as a member of the Sri KL Sharkies.
Asked if her friends will come to Bukit Jalil Aquatic Centre by the busload to cheer her on in the Para Asean Games 2017 next week, Carmen smiled and nodded.