Lei Maw turns 11 today, but instead of celebrating with a birthday cake and balloons, she will keep focused on swimming and training at the SEA Games in Singapore.

Even though she admits to feeling scared, her fears have since appeared to be allayed. “No, it’s not overwhelming. I am used to it,” she said.

She finished her heat in the 100m Freestyle event with a time of 1:06.56, placing 13th out of 14 swimmers.

“They are so fast and I am the slowest one!” she said. “I want to be better than the slowest one.”

Lei Maw also represented her country in the 200m Individual Medley, though again she was unable to qualify.

In March earlier this year, aged 10, she participated in the Singapura Finance SNAG Swim Junior Championships, showing her potential as she placed first in numerous events within her age category.

Having been swimming since she was seven, Lei Maw’s training regime typically starts at 6am, stopping at 9am for school, before returning to the pool from 4pm to 6.30pm. It all started when her father opened a swimming pool in Burma and she participated in some of the classes held there.

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