After a wait of three years, the Shanghai International Schools Sports Association (SSSA) swimming league finally returned to Songjiang campus! This year, nearly 400 athletes from 12 schools participated in the championship, with 53 Pao School students from all three campuses taking part to represent the school. After a wonderful show of athleticism from all the participating swimmers, Pao School won the championship with a combined total score of 1251.
In order to make sure the event went smoothly, teachers from the PE department worked hard for nearly a month on event preparation – completing tasks such as preparing invitation letters, organizing event registration, and designing and purchasing items needed for the event. In addition, on the day of the competition, more than a dozen Year 12 students dedicated their precious weekend time to offer their help with important tasks such as stopwatch timing for the races.
Pao School swimming over the years
Pao School has hosted the SSSA league competition each year it was established. Impressively, the Pao School swimming team has always ended the season ranked amongst the top three.
SSL Suzhou Dulwich College Competition (2019)
In the Shanghai Swim League (SSL), the Pao School swimming team has won the award for the highest average score several times.
In February 2019, the International School of Beijing held the Beijing VS Asian ALL Stars Invitational, including schools from Shanghai, Beijing, the Philippines and the United Arab Emirates – with Pao School ultimately winning the highest average score award.
Pao School Swim Team in UWG2018
In 2018 and 2019, the swimmers of Pao School travelled to Austria to participate in international competitions. The students proudly represented their country and school, winning second and third place in several individual events.
Since its founding, following the influence of Founder and Executive Deputy Chairman Philip Sohmen, a passion for swimming has played a special part in the identity of the school. As an accomplished athlete, Philip Sohmen served as captain of the swimming team and participated in many different competitions during his time at the University of Oxford – including a notable win against the University of Cambridge, which earned him the prestigious title of ‘Oxford Blue.’ (A Blue is awarded for outstanding sporting achievement, whilst representing the University.)
In addition, he has represented Hong Kong in international swimming and water polo competitions and still competes in regular events to this day.
Professor Anna Sohmen Pao and engineers discuss how to improve sound and heat insulation in the ceiling of the swimming pool in 2011
From the day it was opened, Pao School has always placed great importance on physical education, taking great care to cultivate an environment that would encourage exercise. As part of this, indoor swimming pools are available on the primary and high school campuses. Both pools are well-equipped and even include electronic touch-activated timers at the end of the pool to help determine the results and rankings for large-scale events.
The pool is equipped with an electronic touch-activated timer
In 2013, with the guidance of Executive Chairman Philip Sohmen, Pao School established the Founder’s Challenge swimming competition. Then, in 2015, Pao School teachers and students, alongside Philip Sohmen, launched the event Swim for Love – which is now a mainstay at the school and takes place annually. During the event, Pao School students raise money for and swim alongside children with autism, encouraging the students to develop the school value of compassion. At the same time, the event organisers hope that the activity can encourage others to be more understanding, caring, and supportive of children with autism.
Swimming is more than just a sport: It helps people grow, brings balance to their lives, and helps them maintain physical fitness. In the Pao School Founder's Challenge competition, the most important thing is to challenge yourself - and by challenging yourself, help others.
——Philip Sohmen
Executive Deputy Chairman
Lynn Liang, Head of Cross Campus Swimming at Pao School explains that the Pao School swimming team has achieved top results in various major swimming competitions, which is in part due to the school’s heavy emphasis on integrating swimming into the school’s culture. Furthermore, though Pao School is divided into three campuses, each school stage upholds a consistent educational focus on developing the student as a whole person.
Alongside the swimming team and regular swimming lessons in PE, the school offers Recreational Swimming as a co-curricular activity (CCA), one of many options that reflect the school’s whole-person education philosophy. Louis and Sylvia, both in Year 9, currently participate in the activity – with this being Louis’ fourth year taking part. Louis explains that he chose it due to the health benefits, with Sylvia explaining that it is also a really useful stress reliever. Alongside improving their swimming skills, the two have also developed in character strength, with Sylvia explaining she has learned more about the importance of discipline and consistency, as swimming involves training, practice, and goal setting. “I’ve gained a lot of resilience during practices, as it is hard and tiring physically and mentally,” adds Louis.
Alongside their regular swimming lessons, the high school swimming team does 6-8 hours of extra training per week, both in the water and out. During the water training, the students focus on technique and physical training, while out of the water, they improve their breathing and strength – which allows them to be able to swim around 3,500 to 4,000 meters using various swimming styles.
Year 12s William and Ashley, the current swimming team captains, are very proud of being part of the team and cherish they friendships they have made with it. As captains, they not only act as an example for the other swimmers, but also assist in the communication between the coach and the team. In addition, they help look after the needs of their teammates, provide encouragement, and give technical support.
According to the two, training for the team became very difficult during the online learning period, as they could not get in the water together. However, the team members continued their land training to maintain physical fitness and exercise muscle strength, and even took the time to regularly join each other for exercises as a group online – allowing them to still encourage each other as a team, even though they were miles apart.
Group Photo of the 2023 Pao School Swim Team
William shared that one of his favourite aspects of the swimming team is the feeling of inclusivity. During his first three years, he was one of the youngest members on the team, so his older teammates always looked after him. For example, when travelling for swimming competitions, the coach usually roomed older students with younger ones, so they could help them adjust. When competing, the older students always encouraged William, helped him combat nervousness, and taught him tips on how to look after himself – such as how to keep warm during the competition. Now, as a team captain, William hopes to pass on this guidance and care to his juniors.
Ashley recalls that the first time she took part in a swimming competition, her older teammate gave her encouragement to face the competition. In particular, Ashley will never forget how she was told not to think about the results of the competition and that as long as she perseveres, she will win. This relationship also extends beyond the swimming pool, with Ashley saying her teammate has also given her a lot of guidance in life and in making choices for her studies.
Swimming is an important part of whole-person education. It cultivates a spirit of cooperation, hard work, and courage in the students. Over time, swimming has become a school tradition, part of the essence of Pao School.
——Lynn Liang
Head of Cross Campus Swimming
