PIC: KEVIN LIMBy Jugjet Singh
YOU surely can't go on singing Rod Stewart's I Am Sailing when the windsof support and money stop blowing your sail home.
But this doctor sailor is made up of sturdier stuff than the pirates ofthe Caribbean.
He paddled, and then waded and finally swam alongside his boat untilthe Beijing Olympics ticket was justly handed to him.
Kevin Lim is no stranger to the Olympics, but it is a pity that he hadto fight his way as his qualification in the Laser class was challengedby the Malaysian Yachting Association (MYA).
Kevin, 32, qualified through the World Laser Championships in Australiain February, where the MYA did not see it fit to send any of its sailors. But he triumphed in his appeal, and is now looking forward to blueskies and choppy seas again
. When asked about his chances: "Much poorer than if I had been funded tocampaign throughout 2007."
And even though he had numerous problems with funding, he is realisticabout the RM1 million incentive dangled by the government for a gold inBeijing.
"I feel this (RM1 million) is a great outcome goal but outcome goalsare only good if the process goals have been given sufficient investmentas well.
"Personally, I would rather the RM1 million be invested into theOlympic campaign to give the athletes a chance at winning a gold medal inthe first place.
"Once you have good results in most sports (and combined with a goodpersonality and some decent planning for the future), it is possible tosecure employment that will set you up for life anyway," said the good doctor.
And on his training regime? "It is strict. 07.30 wake up; 08.30 morning training session; 10.30post training meal; 11.00 paper work/studying/ lunch. "14.00 afternoon training session; 19.00 post training meal; 20.00flexi time and 22.30 sleep."
He has it meticulously planned, but funding was his major set-back andhe could not train as much as he wanted in 2007.
And what does he thinks is the future for a sport which he has given much of his life to?
"The future of Malaysian sailing will be good if the funding andsponsorship dollars are used to expose the many talented sailors toregattas in Europe and Australia.
"There is little value in building more training centres locally andbuying hundreds of new boats to fill them because high level competitionand ideal racing conditions do not exist locally.
"For the benefit of the sailors, we need to take the road less traveledand venture overseas to learn from the leaders in the field."
And his message to future Olympic sailors?
"Train hard, study smart and drink a lot of Milo."
And only then can you continue singing Rod Stewart's classic, with ahusky tone.
FACT FILE KEVIN LIM * Date of birth: 27 Sept 1976 * Hometown: Selangor * Height: 182cm * Weight: 79kg * Coach: Lou Cwee Peng * Likes: Hawker food, chocolate, travelling * Dislikes: Cruelty to animals * Favourite movie: Die Hard * Favourite food: Mums chicken curry, Penang style char kway teow,satay * Favourite actor/actress: Bruce Willis * Career high: Winning gold fleet race in French Olympic Week 2006 * Career low: Double disqualification at the start of the 2006 AsianGames * Previous Olympic appearances: Three * Beijing events: Laser * Competition dates: Aug 12-19
