Singaporean Doctor Aims for Record in 115km Charity Swim

A Singaporean navy doctor is set to undertake one of the world’s most formidable endurance swims, aiming to raise S$1.5 million (approximately US$1.2 million) for St Luke’s Hospital. Dr Chua Jia Long will attempt the challenging 115km Triple Crown, which comprises three open water swimming events across two continents, between September 4 and September 20, 2024. If successful, he will become the first individual from Singapore to complete all three swims.

Dr Chua, a lieutenant colonel in the Republic of Singapore Navy, plans to accomplish this feat in just 17 days. His goal is to surpass the current world record of 27 days. “When I looked at the logistics of the race and how everything could be planned, I saw an opportunity for how this record could potentially be halved,” the 34-year-old said.

Intense Training Regimen

To prepare for this monumental challenge, Dr Chua has committed to a rigorous training schedule. He swims twice a day, beginning his sessions at 5 a.m. before heading to work. His weekends are dedicated to endurance swims that last between five and ten hours. Additionally, he takes daily ice baths and participates in weekly immersion sessions to acclimatize to the cold water temperatures expected in Europe and North America, which can fall below 20 degrees Celsius.

Dr Chua’s preparations also include overseas training in the waters off Busan, South Korea. He acknowledges the significant personal sacrifices required for such an endeavor. “Training equals a lot of time away from my friends, family, work, and other commitments in my life. Those had to take a backseat during the eight to ten months of training so far,” he explained.

The three marathon swims present diverse challenges, including strong tidal currents, busy shipping lanes, and the presence of marine life. The Catalina Channel segment of the swim in the Pacific Ocean requires starting at night to navigate the stronger tides and winds that occur during the day.

Supporting St Luke’s Hospital

This swim marks Dr Chua’s second major fundraising effort for St Luke’s, a community hospital focused on senior care in Bukit Batok. In 2023, he raised S$250,000 after completing the 8 Bridges Hudson River Swim in New York, battling adverse weather conditions throughout the seven-day, 193km journey. During his residency training, Dr Chua worked in the dementia ward at St Luke’s during the COVID-19 pandemic, giving him a personal connection to the hospital’s mission.

“A lot of these personal challenges, as much as they fulfil me, it’s much more fulfilling to be able to give back to the community. Fundraising for a cause spurs me to do as much as possible within my physical limits,” he stated. With Singapore projected to become a super-aged society in 2024, the need for senior healthcare is increasingly critical.

Kelvin Lee, head of corporate communications and partnerships at St Luke’s Hospital, noted that funds raised from Dr Chua’s swim will enhance care in areas such as rehabilitation, wound care, dementia care, and end-of-life services, both in-patient and at home. He pointed out the growing prevalence of chronic conditions among the elderly, which underscores the importance of additional resources for healthcare services.

Dr Chua expressed his deep commitment to the hospital’s mission, saying, “During the three swims, I’m also going to be enduring long, quiet swims, sometimes at night, often more than 10 hours. I think that’s my way of showing solidarity to the patients who have to endure long, difficult roads and oftentimes alone.”

To date, Dr Chua’s dedicated fundraising page on the give.asia platform has raised nearly S$400,000. Looking to the future, he hopes to be the first Singaporean to complete the Oceans Seven, an even more ambitious challenge consisting of seven open water channel swims. His upcoming Triple Crown swim will include two of those swims, with the remaining challenges being the North Channel, the Cook Strait, the Molokai Channel, the Tsugaru Strait, and the Strait of Gibraltar.