At Nexus, we take pride in celebrating the incredible achievements of our learners, both in and out of the classroom. Today, we celebrate Year 8 learner Qaveri, who recently claimed first place in the Intermediate Women’s Park division at the MASS Singapore skateboarding competition.

Her journey is a blend of passion, resilience, and determination, embodying the true spirit of Nexus Sports. From overcoming injuries to perfecting complex tricks, Qaveri’s story is a powerful example of perseverance and strong support from her coaches and family.

We sat down with Qaveri for an interview to discuss her inspiring journey and achievements.

Congratulations on your first-place win, Qaveri! Could you tell us a bit about the competition and what it involved?

The competition was based on your skateboarding run. The judges looked at how smooth it was and the difficulty of the tricks.

I did a combination of tricks during my run, including allyoop axel grinds, body varials, indie grab launch spines, and more.

The contest is great because they let everyone participate—I even joined in the Men’s run for fun!

Can you share with us what it felt like when you heard your name announced as the winner?

At first, I didn’t know I was going to win because all the other girls had amazing tricks, but I knew I had tried my best.

When they announced the 4th, 3rd, and 2nd, I wondered who was first. When they announced my name, I was so proud!

Both of my brothers represent Singapore in skateboarding (and even made the qualifying round of the Olympics), so I did feel a bit sad that they weren’t there to see me win.

You said you competed with no expectations. What strategies did you use to stay focused and perform your best under those circumstances?

I just put my best effort forward and tried my hardest.

When I woke up on the morning of the contest, I was so nervous that I felt like I couldn’t go. My mum told me to watch TV and play video games, assuring me that this would help me get through the nervousness. After a few hours, it definitely helped me calm down and clear my head to do my best. I was still a bit nervous, though. I fell once on my first run, but I just got up and tried again. I felt more confident going into my second run, which was super clean, and I didn’t fall.

You mentioned facing two back-to-back injuries. How did you stay motivated during your recovery, and what kept you going?

I tore my ligament and ankle and then injured my knee a couple of months ago, around the beginning of June—both times, I wasn’t even doing sports! I waited to heal and started training three weeks before the competition. I skated every day and worked with my coach to perfect my tricks. He helped me with the technical aspects, and I was able to design my routine around that.

I was already familiar with the course and had skated at the park many times, so I was able to plan my run effectively.

What has been the most challenging part of your skateboarding journey so far, and how did you overcome it?

I think fear, especially the fear of falling, has been the most challenging part. After I injured myself, I lost my confidence and still find myself scared when a thought creeps in saying, ‘Oh no, it might happen again.’

To overcome this, I focus on the positives, telling myself, ‘You’ve got this, don’t give up,’ and keep pushing forward.

I’m lucky to have a lot of support from my coach, my brothers, and my parents.

How has your experience in sports at Nexus, both in terms of training and community, influenced your skateboarding?

When I got to Secondary, Mr. Moriarty asked me about the sports I’m into, and I told him that I’m into skateboarding. He was interested in how long I’ve been skating and encouraged me to keep him updated on my progress and to let him know if I need any additional support.

I now play volleyball, which has really helped with my leg strength. In volleyball, you’re constantly bending your knees and sliding. This has strengthened my legs and, in turn, has been beneficial for my skateboarding, which involves a lot of pumping and sliding.

Skateboarding is often about taking risks and trying new tricks. How do you balance the excitement of learning new skills with the need to stay safe?

If I’m stressed, I stop skating. When I skate while feeling stressed or angry, I can’t focus properly, and that can lead to mistakes.

I always try to skate calmly but with a bit of excitement as this lets me concentrate on my movements.

Looking ahead, what are your goals for skateboarding?

My goal is to practice harder. I have two main objectives: to compete in the SEA Games and to qualify for the Olympics.

Is there any advice you would give to other learners who might be going through setbacks or challenges in their sports or hobbies?

Just wait it out, and you’ll come back stronger. Don’t rush things, especially if you’re recovering from an injury—take your time.

Finally, what does resilience mean to you, and how has it played a role in your journey as a skateboarder?

To me, resilience means putting in the effort and having the strength to keep going even when faced with setbacks. It’s about never giving up.