LEGENDS



It's not about the shoes. It's about knowing where you're going, and not forgetting what you've started
My Brothers, its time to finish what we started. Looking back, 2007, 2008. It's been two great years of adventure, sweat, tears and laughter. It has been an honour sharing these two years alongside all of you, feeling that same tiredness, crying that same anguish at last year's nationals, feeling that same joy together during NJCC this year, laughing at the same jokes, swearing at the same things, smelling the same odours after each and every training... it has been an honour being on the same team, being able to wear the name of Raffles on our backs.


It's about having the courage to fail, not breaking when you're broken
We left Bedok last year with heavy hearts. Some of us had a firsthand taste at the bitterness of defeat. Some of us swore almost to revenge our seniors. Some of us swore to recapture our pride. But all of us had a common goal - that was to prove the true mettle and strength and courage of Raffles Canoeing. We were broken, but we were not breaking. We swore to come back in glory and in power. Kaiyang kept telling us that we were going to give them the fight of their lives, a run for their money. Eugene decided that we'll give them more than just a fight.


Taking everything you've been given, and making it something better
By early March, the team of 2008 had already eclipsed the team of 2007. We pulled ourselves together and told each other that we would do a better job than our seniors, that we would train harder, row faster, fight smarter. Out of the comfort zone, with a team we could call our own, we delved head-on into NJCC. We came out stronger, more resilient and more persevering.


It's about work, before glory, and what's inside of you
All of us have gritted our teeth, have felt the pain of the last one hundred metres, the lactic acid coursing through our veins before that final crossing of the line. Whether win or lose we have glorified the name of Raffles Canoeing, we have done something beyond the limits of self and pushed towards achieving something as a team. But far beyond the race, the 2K timings, the land sets of no rest, the 500m sprints, the 40 x 10 bursts in the water, all these have agglomerated into the defining moment of: the race.


It's about doing what they say you can't
Michael once told me that the Spirit motivating us during NJCC was that of Surpassing our seniors and gaining recognition as a team; the Spirit motivating us during Nationals should be that of Proving to Everyone else that Raffles Canoeing is a team to be revered, respected, looked up to. Rafflesians excel at sports not because we have natural sportsmen, but because it is in the very nature of the Rafflesian to work towards excellence.

It's about doing what all these people, from MJC, PJC, NJC, ACS(I), ACJC, SAJC, say we cannot do and cannot be. They have overlooked the fact that within each and every one of us rests a true blooded Rafflesian (that includes you, Eugene) who will put excellence before pain, before defeat, before difficulty, before fear, that excellence which gives the team, the sport, purpose and meaning.


It's not about the shoes. It's about what you do in them
It is this same excellence which has to unite our team, it is this same excellence which should drive every single one of us, whether K or C, whether single or double (or quadruple). It is this overarching excellence residing within the depths of our souls, which all of us should bring forth, and shake the very perceptions of these people who have never believed in the success of our team.


It's about being, who you were born to be
Let us open both our eyes and theirs and let them see what Raffles Canoeing can and should truly be.






Let us all become





Legendary.

impossible, difficult then done. how many times have we talked about wanting to do the impossible? how many batches have been called the dream team? how many teams have been said to be stronger than ever? we have been called all those at one time or the other, have dreamed the impossible at one point or the other. but how many times have we really put our minds together to doing it?

today, i want us to think about something very simple:

team.

together as a team, we will carry each other's dreams, we fight till the end for each other, for the people we love so much. every sacrifice will be worth it when the fight is over. when the last man crosses the finishing line and the last medal given out, we will stand tall as giants. together as a team, we will do the impossible.

people say winning is everything and it is true. people don't remember the way you row a race. they only remember who wins the race. they don't remember how close it was; only who won. but those people are not the people you know. they are not your friends. they are not your teammates. they are not your family. they are not the people that you love or love you. to those people winning is everything; but to everyone else

fighting is everything.

we come from a proud heritage. canoeing has been in raffles since the 1980s. not every single batch wins, but every single batch keeps on fighting. this is why we still stand today. when we row, we don't represent just ourselves, we represent each and every one of the batches that have gone before us and that will come after us. the sweet victory may not come in our batch or the next batch or even for tens of batches but if we keep fighting there will be a day where raffles will be crowned champions and there will be a time where we will win and keep winning. and when that time comes, not only will that batch be glorified but every single batch  before that them be glorified. this is our history. this is who we are. we are Raffles Canoeing - fighters till the end. if we give up the fight today, we will lose our chance to rise from the ashes and grab glory.

when we go out there on 8th july and row our races for raffles. i want you to remember that you are carrying the dreams and hopes of not just yourself but of every single Raffles Canoeist that was, is and is to come. it is not easy but we will be there for each other. we will become each other's pillar of support. we will fight till the end together.

"we will be like ducks. 

so, lets prepare ourselves for one last chance at glory guys. lets grit our teeth and pull each other through till the very end. lets put in the 100% strength into every single stroke, cm, inch for each other. lets not give up but fight on for each other. 

i ask you now, if you are willing to step up and put your heart onto the line for the person standing beside you, for the person rowing in front or behind or beside you, join me and let us fight the best fight ever and it shall be forever remembered that we, the batch of 2008, never gave up and stood up against giants and became champions.