Ethan’s leap of faith to teach swimming full time pays off

FOR economics graduate Ethan Chew Yizheng, starting Sailfish Swim Academy with Ryan Kee Zhen Hao was a leap of faith outside his formal training.

He used to train competitively in swimming and also played waterpolo. His brother is former national diver Chew Yiwei and sister was also a competitive synchronised swimmer.

“I have immense respect for all our national athletes, knowing first-hand how difficult it is to reach such great heights.

“Watching my brother’s dedication over the years has truly inspired me to push myself to be better, both in and out of the water.

“I saw Ryan’s dream and immediately bought into it, being a former athlete myself, with all my siblings being athletes too.

“I understood and connected with his vision when we caught up in 2014.

“We started small by teaching swimming during off working hours to friends, families, and their children, mostly at condo facilities.

“Word spread soon and they brought their friends and families, which kept expanding.

“Eventually, the demand became so high that we had to bring in our former swimming colleagues to help.

“That’s when we realised that this could be something much bigger.

“We decided to take it full-time and officially register with Youth and Sports Ministry and Companies Commission of Malaysia,” said Ethan, who added knowing how to swim is a skill that could save your life.

“In a country like Malaysia, with so many natural bodies of water and water-related activities, swimming becomes not just a recreational sport but a crucial survival skill.

“At Sailfish Swim Academy, we emphasise the importance of water safety, especially for children as drowning is one of the leading causes of accidental deaths.

“But swimming goes beyond just safety. It’s also about building physical fitness, mental resilience, and confidence.”

In addition, Sailfish also aims to uncover and nurture new swimming talents by expanding accessibility through these affordable classes. By providing more opportunities for children who might not otherwise have the chance, the academy hopes to foster the next generation of swimming champions.

“We firmly believe that extraordinary talent can emerge from the most unexpected places but only if we create the right opportunities and open doors to everyone regardless of their background.

“The recent Paris Olympics has shown us that Malaysia have immense potential in various sports, including swimming.

“With the right support system, we know that there are countless young swimmers – and, perhaps, even future Olympians – just waiting to be discovered.”