Mark Chay

In this Chinese name, the family name is Chay.

Mark Chay

Personal information
Full name	Mark Chay Jung Jun
National team	Singapore
Born	(1982-02-18) February 18, 1982 (age 42) Singapore
Sport
Sport	Swimming
Medal record SEA Games 2001 Kuala Lumpur 200m freestyle 2005 Laguna 4x100m freestyle relay 2005 Laguna 4x200m freestyle relay 1999 Brunei 200m freestyle 1999 Brunei 4x100m freestyle relay 2003 Hanoi 200m freestyle 2003 Hanoi 100m backstroke 2005 Laguna 100m backstroke 1999 Brunei 100m freestyle 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.

Chay is currently the president of Singapore Aquatics.

He has been awarded Singapore Sportsboy of the Year in 2000, and Sportsman of the Year in 2001. Chay competed and studied at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. He was the Mountain West Conference Champion. Chay graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in Communications.

Career

Chay is currently the chief development officer of Global Esports Federation, a non-governmental organisation headquartered in Singapore that promotes e-sports.^[2]

Swimming career

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]

Sporting related career

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

Chay was appointed as Singapore's chef de mission for the 2014 Youth Olympic Games held at Nanjing, China and also one of the two deputy chefs de mission for the 2017 SEA Games held at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.^[6]

In June 2022, Chay was elected to the president of Singapore Aquatics for a two year term.^[2]

Political career

On 14 January 2021, Chay was chosen as one of the 9 Nominated Members of Parliament (NMP) for the 14th Parliament of Singapore, which began on 21 January 2021.^[7] After his appointment was announced, Chay said that he intends to speak on sports as an agent of social change and a way to unify a nation, prompted by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Singapore's sports scene. In addition, Chay plans to speak on economic issues too.^[8][9]

Personal life

Chay is married to Joanna Seetoh and they have a daughter.^[10]

In March 2024, Chay was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukaemia.^[2]

References

1. "Mark Chay – Singapore National Olympic Council". Retrieved 15 August 2024.
2. Tham, Ashley. "Singapore Aquatics president Mark Chay diagnosed with leukaemia". CNA. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
3. "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. 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. Abdullah, Zhaki (14 January 2021). "Nine new Nominated Members of Parliament to be appointed". CNA. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
8. Singh, Dilenjit (19 January 2021). "Ex-Olympic swimmer Mark Chay wears many hats, his latest as NMP". The New Paper. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
9. 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.
10. 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.

External links

• Mark Chay at World Aquatics
• Mark Chay at Olympics.com
• Mark Chay at Olympedia
• Mark Chay at the Singapore National Olympic Council
• Mark Chay at the Commonwealth Games Federation (archived)