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Mark Chay

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In this Chinese name, the family name is Chay.
Mark Chay
Personal information
Full nameChay Jung Jun, Mark
National teamSingapore
Born (1982-02-18) February 18, 1982 (age 42)
Singapore
Sport
SportSwimming
Medal record
SEA Games
Gold medal – first place 2001 Kuala Lumpur 200m freestyle
Gold medal – first place 2005 Laguna 4x100m freestyle relay
Gold medal – first place 2005 Laguna 4x200m freestyle relay
Silver medal – second place 1999 Brunei 200m freestyle
Silver medal – second place 1999 Brunei 4x100m freestyle relay
Silver medal – second place 2003 Hanoi 200m freestyle
Silver medal – second place 2003 Hanoi 100m backstroke
Silver medal – second place 2005 Laguna 100m backstroke
Bronze medal – third place 1999 Brunei 100m freestyle
Bronze medal – third place 2001 Kuala Lumpur 100m freestyle

Mark Chay Jung Jun (simplified Chinese: 蔡荣俊; born 18 February 1982)[1] is a former Singaporean freestyle swimmer who has represented the country in the SEA Games and Summer Olympics. His international swimming career began at the 1997 SEA Games and concluded at 2005 SEA Games. He has competed in a total of seven SEA Games, two Asian Games, two Commonwealth Games and two Olympics Games.

Early life and Education

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Mark Chay was born and raised in Singapore, where he developed a passion for swimming at a young age. He attended Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) and Anglo-Chinese Junior College. [2][3]  Chay's notable abilities in the pool earned him a scholarship to Brigham Young University (BYU) in Provo, Utah.

At BYU, he continued to maintain his rank in swimming while getting a degree in Communications. While at the university, he became the Mountain West Conference Champion. Chay graduated with a degree in Communications.

Professional career

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Swimming career

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In 1997, Chay was nominated for the 1997 SEA Games by the Singapore Amateur Swimming Association despite failing to meet the required qualifying time.[3] His nomination was expected as there were six other nominated swimmers who barely failed qualifying for the SEA Games and they were expected to be included into relay teams or for exposure.[3]He was eventually selected for the SEA Games and swam at the 200m, 400m, 1500m freestyle and 400m individual medley events.[4]

During the 1999 SEA Games, Chay, Fergus Kuek, Sng Ju Wei and Ernest Teo won the silver medal in the 4 x 100 meters freestyle relay event in 3 min 28.12 sec and broke the national record of 3min 31.36sec of 13 years.[5]

Chay retired from swimming in July 2007.[6]

Sports Administration

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Following his retirement from competitive swimming in 2005, Chay transitioned into sports administration, where he actively participated in various national and international organizations. He is currently the Chief Development Officer at the Global Esports Federation (GEF).[7]In this role, he promotes esports' growth and development globally. Previously, he was the President of Singapore Aquatics and currently serves as the Vice President of the Singapore National Olympic Council and a World Aquatics Bureau Member.[8]

Chay co-chaired the Local Organizing Committee for the 2025 World Aquatics Championships and co-chaired the Local Organizing Committee for the inaugural Olympic Esports Week in Singapore in 2023. His past responsibilities included chairing the Singapore National Olympic Council Athletes’ Commission and serving on the Olympic Council of Asia’s athletes’ committee. He was also the Chief de Mission for the 2014 Nanjing Youth Olympic Games, Deputy Chef de Mission for the 2017 Kuala Lumpur Southeast Asian Games,[6] and Chief de Mission for the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

Chay was previously the head coach of X Lab, a swimming academy.[6]

Coaching

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Chay was Yip Pin Xiu’s coach from 2019 to 2022. Under his guidance, Pin Xiu won two gold medals at the London 2019 World Para Swimming Championships, two gold medals at the Tokyo 2020 Summer Paralympic Games, and two gold medals at the Madeira 2022 World Para Swimming Championships. His coaching was recognized with the Coach of the Year (High Performance) award at the Singapore Disability Sports Awards in 2021 and 2022. [9]

Political career

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On January 21, 2021, Chay was appointed among one of the nine Nominated Members of Parliament (NMP) for the 14th Parliament of Singapore.[10] In parliament, he proposed using sports as a tool for social change and unity, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, which impacted the sports and fitness sector in Singapore.

In addition to focusing on sports-related issues, Chay also addresses major economic concerns, utilizing his experiences in sports administration to propose policies that benefit the sporting community and the population. His role in parliament is to represent athletes and sports organizations and contribute to the broader national discourse on economic and social development.[11][12]

Awards and Honors

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  • Singapore Sportsboy of the Year – 2000[13]
  • Singapore Sportsman of the Year – 2001[14]
  • Coach of the Year (High Performance) – 2021[15]
  • Coach of the Year (High Performance) – 2022[15]

Personal life

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Chay is married to Joanna Seetoh and they have a daughter.[16]

In March 2024, Chay was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukaemia.[8]

References

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  1. ^ "Mark Chay – Singapore National Olympic Council". Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  2. ^ "From Pool to Parliament: Mark Chay's Versatile Success".
  3. ^ a b "Sasa nominates 19 for Jakarta SEA Games". The Straits Times. 29 July 1997. p. 38. Retrieved 15 August 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
  4. ^ "Men". The Straits Times. 10 September 1997. p. 45. Retrieved 15 August 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
  5. ^ "Breaking a 13-year record..." The New Paper. 11 August 1999. p. 42. Retrieved 15 August 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
  6. ^ a b c Chia, Alvin (1 June 2017). "SEA Games: Mark Chay and Lee Wung Yew appointed Singapore's deputy chefs de mission". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  7. ^ "Championing Esports and Aquatics on a Global Stage". www.ibtimes.sg. 14 August 2024. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  8. ^ a b Tham, Ashley. "Singapore Aquatics president Mark Chay diagnosed with leukaemia". CNA. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  9. ^ "Championing Esports and Aquatics on a Global Stage". www.ibtimes.sg. 14 August 2024. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  10. ^ Abdullah, Zhaki (14 January 2021). "Nine new Nominated Members of Parliament to be appointed". CNA. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  11. ^ Singh, Dilenjit (19 January 2021). "Ex-Olympic swimmer Mark Chay wears many hats, his latest as NMP". The New Paper. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  12. ^ Abdul Aziz, Sazali (19 January 2021). "#GameOfTwoHalves Podcast: NMP Mark Chay on plans to help local sport survive beyond Covid-19". The Straits Times. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  13. ^ Chen, May (2 March 2014). "Former swimmer Mark Chay appointed chef de mission for Youth Olympic Games in Aug". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  14. ^ "Mark Chay – Singapore National Olympic Council". Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  15. ^ a b "Yip Pin Xiu wins third Sportswoman of the Year at Singapore Disability Sports Awards". Yahoo News. 6 July 2022. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  16. ^ Ong, Guang-Xi Justin (21 July 2024). "He's battling a 'once in a lifetime' illness but Mark Chay's mission to drive sport in Singapore goes on". CNA. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
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