Overcoming Hurdles
Breaking records one by one, Elizabeth-Ann Tan inspires us with her story of soaring over the hurdles of being an elite student-athlete in Singapore.
Story by Tye Wen Xin Aiko
Photos courtesy of RedSports’ Iman Hashim and Tessa Cho, Singapore Athletics, Chen Si Yuan
““I’m truly blessed with this talent for running by God and I want to continue using this gift to glorify His name.””
“I started athletics in 2011 when I was eight years old. I recall it was during a PE lesson when we were doing a shuttle relay that my teacher noticed my speed and encouraged me to try out for the sport.”
Meet Elizabeth-Ann Tan Shee Ru, who, despite her humble beginnings, now holds the title of Singapore's second fastest sprinter and fourth fastest 100m hurdler of all-time, National School Games’ C and B Division 100m, 80m Hurdles and 100m Hurdles Records. All this, at the age of just 19. This year marks her 12th year in the world of athletics, where she continues to soar over hurdles in her relentless pursuit of excellence as a national sprinter.
But it has not been all smooth sailing for the young athlete, who was met with a slew of injuries at the peak of her career as a junior. Then, she was 15 years-old…
“I faced my first biggest obstacle at the 11th ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Schools Games in 2019, when I fell short of my goals,” Elizabeth-Ann reflected, as she heaved a heavy sigh.
She recounted that she was planning for the 100m hurdles. On the opening day of the Games, she had flawlessly executed her race plan, despite it being her first international competition in that discipline. Elizabeth-Ann exceeded expectations. Not only did she secure the gold medal, she also shattered both the ASEAN Games Record and the Singapore National Under-18 Record.
However, after crossing the finish line, Elizabeth-Ann's situation quickly took a sharp turn for the worse. She experienced an excruciating pain in her left ankle, as if a knife had pierced through the area. After seeking assistance from her physiotherapist, she was found to have overexerted her ankle. Unfortunately for her, the timing couldn't have been more unfavorable, as she had 100m heats scheduled for the next morning. It didn’t help that the pain worsened overnight.
After much discussion with her parents and coach, the then 15-year-old reluctantly decided to withdraw from the finals to avoid aggravating her injury further. Grappling with the seemingly most difficult decision of her life at that time, she expressed her disappointment and frustration, stating, “It was disheartening to realize that all the hard work I had invested throughout the year for the Games seemed to be in vain. I had hoped that the tough competition would propel me to qualify for the 100m race at the 2019 SEA (Southeast Asia) Games.”
However, she took a step back and realized the importance of considering the bigger picture - she couldn't risk jeopardizing her entire 2020 season for a single race. In hindsight, she reflected on this experience as an invaluable lesson. She discovered that desperation and impulsivity often lead to chronic injuries, and Elizabeth-Ann, showing her maturity as an athlete, had understood this deeply through the experience.
Elizabeth-Ann exemplifies the notion that achieving positive outcomes requires significant effort. “I train every day except on Sunday, and usually have double training on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday,” she explained. With an understanding of the all-encompassing nature of being an athlete, she added, “As my coach often emphasizes, we are athletes 24/7, not solely when we are on the track or at the gym. Athletics is at the core of everything we do.”
In recognition of her achievements, Elizabeth-Ann is one of the few sports scholars at the National University of Singapore where she pursues her studies. It is easy to forget that the second-fastest Singaporean woman ever is still, after all, a student.
“It’s definitely not easy juggling my academic and sporting commitments simultaneously, and it takes a lot of self-discipline and prioritization to ensure that I’m on task,” she laughed, “But at the end of the day, it’s all about balance.”
2019 National School Games 4x400m Finals - B Division Girls
Elizabeth-Ann Tan dipping for the line as she anchors her team to victory.
Photo courtesy of Redsports’ Iman Hashim
With years of diverse competition experience, the recent one that truly thrust her onto the grand stage was the recent SEA Games held in Cambodia. While being part of the national relay team since the age of 15, this occasion marked her debut in individual events - both the 100m and 200m.
"Being a major competition, all eyes were on us, with extensive media coverage and live streams,” she recounted as she sat back in her chair, “Additionally, there was internal pressure. Like every athlete, I wanted to perform well and get new personal bests.”
The weight of carrying the Singapore flag on her chest felt significantly heavier than before, but her coach provided much-needed reassurance, encouraging her to give her best effort and relish the experience. With a renewed sense of confidence, Elizabeth-Ann went into the race recharged, where she succeeded in accomplishing her objective of setting a new personal record of 24.03 seconds, whilst solidifying her position as the second fastest female Singaporean of all-time.
Fresh from a competition in Europe, where she toed the line with some of the world’s fastest women and lowered her personal best in the 100m event with an impressive time of 11.74 seconds, Elizabeth-Ann reaffirms her unwavering dedication to athletics. Despite its demanding nature, the determined teenager has no intentions of retiring her spikes anytime soon.
