Darren Chua

In this Chinese name, the family name is Chua.
Darren Chua
Personal information
Full nameYi Shou Chua Darren[1]
Nationality Singapore
Born (2000-03-20) 20 March 2000 (age 24)
Singapore
Sport
SportSwimming
StrokesFreestyle, medley
Medal record
Representing  Singapore
Event 1st 2nd 3rd
Asian Games 0 0 1
Southeast Asian Games 5 1 0
Total 5 1 1
Asian Games
Bronze medal – third place 2018 Jakarta 4×100 m freestyle
Southeast Asian Games
Gold medal – first place 2019 Philippines 100 m freestyle
Gold medal – first place 2019 Philippines 200 m freestyle
Gold medal – first place 2019 Philippines 4x100 m freestyle
Gold medal – first place 2019 Philippines 4x200 m freestyle
Gold medal – first place 2019 Philippines 4x100 m medley
Silver medal – second place 2019 Philippines 200 m individual medley

Darren Chua (born 20 March 2000) is a Singaporean swimmer who competes internationally at the Southeast Asian Games and the Asian Games.

Career

In 2017, Darren has participated in major swim meets such as the 6th FINA World Junior Swimming Championship, 6th Commonwealth Youth Games and the 2017 FINA Swimming World Cup.

Darren competed at the 2018 Asian Games. Along with Joseph Schooling, Quah Zheng Wen and Darren Lim combined to bag a bronze in the men’s 4x100m freestyle relay at the Games, setting a new national record.[2][3]

Darren made his Southeast Asian Games debut in 2019 and bagged five golds - two in individual events and three in relays and a silver. Darren claimed his first individual title at the SEA Games, clinching the gold medal in the men’s 200m freestyle on December 7 at the New Clark City Aquatics Center. He clocked a personal-best of 1min 48.26sec, just ahead of Malaysia’s Welson Sim (1:48.52). Vietnam’s Hoàng Quý Phước was third with his time of 1:48.59.[4] It was Darren’s third gold at the Games, after wins in the 4x100m freestyle and 4x200m freestyle relays.[5]

Chua upset defending champion Welson Sim in the 200m freestyle, then stunned defending champion Joseph Schooling in the 100m freestyle.[6][7]

Schooling’s timing of 49.64 at the New Clark City Aquatic Complex meant that he was 0.05s behind Chua (49.59), who claimed gold.[8][9]

Personal life

Darren started as a mere water safety lesson, before taking up swimming as a career. Darren attended Temasek Polytechnic School of Applied Science in the Diploma in Veterinary Technology.[10]

References

  1. ^ "CHUA YI SHOU DARREN". Singapore Sports Council. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  2. ^ Amir, Yusof (25 August 2018). "Singapore swimmers 'surpassed expectations' at Asian Games: Coaches". Channel News Asia. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  3. ^ Lester, Wong (25 August 2018). "Asian Games: S'pore swimmers' successful campaign reflects squad's greater depth and ambition". The Straits Times. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  4. ^ Kimberly, Kwek (7 December 2019). "SEA Games: Golds by Darren Chua in 200 free, Quah Ting Wen in 50 fly and women's 4x100m free relay team". The Straits Times. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  5. ^ "Singapore's young swimmers smash national, personal records at SEA Games". Today Online. 7 December 2019. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  6. ^ Mohan, Matthew (10 December 2019). "'I like to prove people wrong': SEA Games debutant Darren Chua sets sights higher after 5-gold haul". Channel News Asia. Archived from the original on 13 January 2021. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  7. ^ White, Jonathan (8 December 2019). "SEA Games: Joseph Schooling loses to teammate Darren Chua in 100m freestyle". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  8. ^ Mohan, Matthew (9 December 2019). "SEA Games: Darren Chua wins 100m freestyle, beats defending champion Joseph Schooling". Channel News Asia. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  9. ^ "Swimming: Darren Chua wins 100m freestyle, beats defending champion Joseph Schooling". Today Online. 8 December 2019. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  10. ^ Kristie, Tan. "Part time national athlete, part time polytechnic student". Temasek Polytechnic. Archived from the original on 12 December 2019. Retrieved 12 December 2019.