In Focus: Star Power- LKCMedicine Students Triumph in Sports
 | By Sanjay Devaraja |
What a year it has been!
2025 will be tough to beat, on every front at LKCMedicine. In education, research, and corporate services, as well as student life, we have delivered well beyond expectations – leading, trailblazing, and making history.
The year ended on a high, with our student athletes punching above their weight at the recent 33rd SEA Games held in Thailand. From 9 to 20 December, in their respective fields they pushed hard, contributing to Singapore’s record-breaking away-Games medal haul and underlining the School’s growing presence in high-performance sport. Representing Singapore in softball, fencing, jiu-jitsu, squash, swimming, and triathlon, these multi-hyphenates show they are excelling both as future doctors and as national athletes.
Among the outstanding Singapore contingent were six LKCMedicine students representing Singapore across team and individual events. Their participation came as Team Singapore achieved its best away-Games performance with 202 medals, capped by dominant campaigns in swimming, fencing and other key sports. The standout results were in several sports in which LKCMedicine students were involved, including a 34-medal haul in swimming, 13 medals in fencing, five in jiu-jitsu, four in squash, two in softball and seven in triathlon.
For LKCMedicine, the contingent marked one of the School’s largest representations at a major multi-sport Games, reflecting a culture that increasingly supports student-athletes at the elite level. As they competed on the regional stage while keeping up with the demands of medical school, the students became role models for younger cohorts who aspire to pursue both medicine and sport.
Among the medallists was Year 2 student Ethan Chua Jie Fan, who clinched a bronze in squash in his SEA Games debut. Reflecting on what first drew him to the sport, he credits his father, an ex-national squash player, as his earliest influence.
“At a young age, I tried many sports such as gymnastics, swimming, rugby, and badminton, but the one I chose to pursue was squash. My family would play at the National University of Singapore Society (NUSS) courts, and that developed my love for the game. Being able to represent my country on a larger stage in front of friends and family spurred me to give my best effort and leave everything on the court. Receiving my bronze medal was extra special as it was the culmination of all the blood, sweat and tears put in throughout the year,” shared Chua.
While final individual placings varied across events, LKCMedicine athletes were part of squads that helped Singapore secure historic breakthroughs and podium finishes in multiple disciplines. Their presence in both endurance-based and combat or racket sports also highlighted the breadth of sporting talent within the medical school community.
In jiu-jitsu, Year 4 student Noah Lim Tian Run continued his remarkable run of success by adding another SEA Games medal (bronze in jiu-jitsu mixed team) to his tally. Having made history in 2019 as Singapore’s first jiu-jitsu gold medallist at just 17, the Singapore flag bearer at the Games opening has since won three SEA Games medals and a 2025 Ju-Jitsu International Federation (JJIF) World Championships silver medal.
“Honestly, I try not to focus too much on results, because your self-worth shouldn’t depend on wins or losses. Each medal represents consistency despite major life changes, from being a pre-university student, to serving as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) during the COVID-19 pandemic, to starting medical school and clinical rotations. It was incredibly special to win another gold while representing LKCMedicine. The School’s support showed me that excellence in one area doesn’t require abandoning another – it proves that LKCMedicine students can redefine what’s possible when given the space to pursue our passions alongside our medical training,” enthused Noah.
Holding a world ranking of 170 in foil as of mid-2025, Year 5 student Jonathan Lim Tzien Yih secured joint bronze in the men's individual foil on December 16.
He also contributed to Team Singapore's gold in the men's foil team event. This performance built on Singapore fencing's strong showing at the Games with three golds.
Year 2 student Eliza Lim Ying Jie also exemplified excellence as a key member of the women’s softball team that clinched Singapore’s second-ever silver medal in SEA Games history.
Balancing medicine and elite sport
In interviews conducted around the Games, the student-athletes described meticulous time management, strong peer support, and understanding faculty as key to juggling training, competitions and clinical or classroom commitments. Many credited their medical training for sharpening their discipline, resilience, and understanding of sports science and injury prevention, which in turn strengthened their performance on the field of play.
Year 2 medical student and national swimmer Ashley Lim Yi-Xuan is another athlete no stranger to juggling demanding commitments, as she splits her time between rigorous clinical training and high-performance competitive sport. She made waves at the Games, clinching a team silver medal in the 4x100m freestyle relay and delivering an outstanding performance in the 100m freestyle. Reflecting on her journey, Ashley shared, “Honestly, it’s been difficult, but I believe everyone can have multiple passions. For as long as you’re able to, you should go and pursue them.”
For Noah Lim, balancing the rigours of medical studies at LKCMedicine with his role as a national athlete demands strategic precision and unwavering commitment.
Said Noah, who is conducting orthopaedic research into musculoskeletal conditions, “Being a medical student and a national athlete is difficult but doable. Good time management and discipline are essential. Planning ahead helps me stay on track even when I have to miss lessons to compete overseas. The key is treating both pursuits with equal seriousness rather than seeing one as a hobby. Being a medical student has helped me understand my body, nutrition and recovery better. It has taught me to think in an algorithmic manner – like approaching a clinical case study. I’ve become more analytical about performance, recovery and injury prevention.”
Beyond the medals and milestones, LKCMedicine’s showing at the 33rd SEA Games reflects a deeper commitment to nurturing well-rounded doctors who embody resilience, discipline, and balance. The School continues to stand firmly behind student-athletes through flexible academic arrangements, mentorship, and a supportive community that recognises the value of pursuing excellence beyond the classroom.
Every victory, whether in the classroom or on the field, is a testament to the unyielding spirit that LKCMedicine strives to cultivate – driven yet compassionate, disciplined yet adaptable. In supporting its student-athletes who dare to stretch boundaries and pursue their ambitions, the School celebrates not just sporting excellence, but the making of doctors who know how to lead, inspire, and heal – both in sport and in service to society.
LKCMedicine’s medal tally at the 33rd SEA Games:
🥇+🥉 Jonathan Lim Tzien Yih (Year 5) – team gold medallist & individual bronze medallist in Fencing
🥈 Ashley Lim Yi-Xuan (Year 2) – team silver medallist in Swimming 4x100m freestyle relay
🥈 Eliza Lim Ying Jie (Year 2) – team silver medallist in women’s Softball
🥉 Noah Lim Tian Run (Year 4) – team bronze medallist in Jiu-Jitsu mixed team
🥉 Ethan Chua Jie Fan (Year 2) – team bronze medallist in Squash
🥉 Nicholas Rachmandi (Year 5) – individual bronze medallist in Duathlon