We are located in central Singapore with close access to two MRT lines and various bus stops.
1 Aljunied Walk, Singapore 387293
From Nexus to Nationals: Nina’s Journey as a Nexus Alumni Swimmer
From First Laps to the World Stage
At Nexus International School (Singapore), swimming is more than a co-curricular activity. It is a high-performance programme built on expert coaching, exceptional facilities and a culture that nurtures both resilience and balance. Year after year, Nexus swimmers continue to demonstrate what is possible when young athletes are supported to train with purpose, discipline and care.
Our swim programme has a proven track record of excellence. The Nexus Swim Team has been crowned ACSIS Overall High School Champions for four consecutive years, a reflection of the depth, consistency and resilience across the squad. Beyond school competitions, many of our swimmers go on to compete at regional, national and international levels, carrying with them the foundations developed during their time at Nexus.
This strength is reflected not only in what our swimmers achieve during their time at Nexus, but also in the pathways they go on to pursue beyond school. From podium finishes at school and inter-school competitions to representation at national, regional and international level, Nexus swimmers consistently demonstrate the confidence, discipline and resilience developed through the programme. For many, these foundations continue to shape their sporting journeys long after they leave our campus.
It is within this context that we recently welcomed back another Nexus alumna, Nina, during her visit to Singapore. Having taken her first strokes at Nexus at just seven years old, Nina has since progressed to competing at the national level in Brazil. Her story is one of early discovery, sustained dedication and the lasting impact of a strong swimming foundation.
Discovering a Love for Swimming at Nexus
Nina’s swimming journey began at Nexus when she was just five years old. Attending the school from 2014 to 2017, she first took part in swimming lessons as part of the curriculum in 2015, taught by Larisa Rimmer, now Director of Aquatics at Nexus. Through these lessons, Larisa quickly recognised Nina’s enthusiasm and potential in the water, which led to her progression into the swim squad at seven years old, where Larisa also coached her more competitively.
Now in her final year of the IB and based in Brazil, Nina continues to compete at a high level.
Nina credits the swimming lessons at Nexus with shaping her early relationship with the sport. Studied as part of the usual curriculum, weekly swimming lessons with specialist teachers allowed Nina to discover her love for swimming while developing structure and routine from a young age. This early exposure also helped her understand the importance of consistency, a principle that continues to guide her training today.
Larisa reflects:
“Watching swimmers like Nina grow from their early days at Nexus is incredibly meaningful. As a young swimmer, she showed enthusiasm, commitment, and a genuine love for the water, laying the foundations for everything that followed. To now see her competing on the national stage is a powerful reminder of the impact long-term development and belief can have.
Seeing Nina return to Nexus, still connected to the programme and people who helped shape her journey, is truly a full-circle moment. It’s inspiring for our current swimmers to see what’s possible when passion, hard work, and resilience are nurtured over time. Moments like these reinforce why we do what we do every day—building not just strong swimmers, but confident, motivated individuals who carry those values with them wherever their journey leads.”
Early Success and Finding Her Strengths
Nina’s first competitive success came at Nexus. At just seven years old, she won her first medal at a competition in the 50m breaststroke.
“This was a very special moment for me because I remember that I was competing against swimmers who were older than me,” she shared.
It was during her time at Nexus that Nina discovered her love for breaststroke and freestyle, strokes that have remained her strengths ever since.
Larisa notes that even at a young age, Nina displayed qualities that extended beyond physical ability.
“Even at a young age, Nina stood out for her curiosity and natural love for the sport. She was always eager to learn, open to feedback, and willing to challenge herself. These are qualities that matter just as much as talent.
At Nexus, the most important thing we build is a genuine love for swimming, because passion is what sustains long-term growth. Alongside that, we focus on strong technical foundations, resilience, discipline, and a growth mindset. When swimmers truly love what they do and are grounded in strong fundamentals, they’re well prepared to thrive beyond school and at the highest levels of the sport.”
Beyond the pool, Nina remembers her time at Nexus for the sense of belonging it created. She fondly recalls the friendships she formed, the welcoming environment, and the many festive celebrations and assemblies that brought the community together.
She describes Nexus as a place that encouraged participation, helped her develop positive routines, and made her feel supported from a very young age.
Drag
Taking the Next Step: Competing in Brazil
After leaving Nexus and relocating to Brazil, Nina was determined to continue swimming competitively. This came with new challenges. Unlike Singapore, schools in Brazil do not typically offer swim teams, with sport largely centred around football and basketball. Finding the right training environment required persistence.
In 2019, Nina took her swimming to the next level by joining the Fluminense swim team. She has since continued to compete at the regional and national levels, recording multiple national podium finishes, including a bronze medal in the 100m breaststroke with a personal best time of 1:14.
At the age of 14, Nina competed in her first international championship, the Gymnasiade (ISF World School Sport Games), where she won a bronze medal in the 200m breaststroke.
Today, Nina balances a demanding training schedule alongside her IB studies. Her weekly routine includes nine pool sessions and five land training sessions, requiring discipline, focus and careful time management.
Returning to Nexus: Learning Goes Both Ways
During a recent visit to Singapore, Nina returned to Nexus and joined the elite swim team in the pool for a training session with CoachAdrian Ong. The session focused on a range of drills, each targeting individual strokes, and offered Nina the chance to train alongside current Nexus swimmers.
Coach Adrian shared:
“Training alongside Nexus alumni who are competing at the national or international level is both inspiring and highly valuable for our current swimmers.
Firstly, there is a strong sense of excitement and pride on deck. Our swimmers are genuinely happy to see a former Nexus athlete return to train with the team. It reinforces a powerful message: the Nexus swimming pathway works. Seeing an ex-Nexus swimmer continue to excel beyond sport in school gives current athletes confidence that what they are doing now can support long-term success in the sport.
Alumni provide a living example of what excellence looks like. Training alongside them allows current swimmers to observe higher-level execution of technique, race skills, and professionalism in daily training. These are lessons that cannot always be taught verbally.
Finally, this experience helps develop deeper thinking and learning maturity among the team. By watching and interacting with high-level alumni, swimmers begin to understand how and why performance details matter. In essence, alumni training sessions create a culture where aspiration, learning and excellence are visible and shared—benefiting not just individual swimmers, but the entire Nexus team.”
Reflecting on the session, Nina adds, “It was really nice to train in the new pool with Coach Adrian. The swim team were all so welcoming and supportive.”
Looking Ahead
Looking ahead, Nina is preparing to return to full training in Brazil following the summer break, with Regional Championships in March and National Championships in June ahead. She plans to study marketing and journalism at university and hopes to continue pursuing swimming at a high competitive level alongside her academics, ideally in the United States.
Nina’s journey is a powerful reminder that the foundations built at Nexus extend far beyond the school years. At Nexus, we support learners not only in their immediate achievements but also in the pathways they go on to pursue around the world.
Our elite swim programme combines expert coaching, tailored performance plans and Olympic-grade facilities—designed to support high-level athletes and nurture the next generation of champions.
