SINGAPORE — For most students, sitting the International Baccalaureate (IB) examinations is demanding enough. For several recently graduated Singapore Sports School (SSP) student-athletes, the academic pressure came alongside preparations for the SEA Games — a combination that required early mornings, long training hours and late nights with textbooks. 

Triathlete Reyes Loh, 19, described 2025 as “one of the most tiring and tough” years of his life. He set himself two targets: score at least 40 points in the IB Diploma Programme (IBDP) and make the national triathlon team for the 33rd SEA Games in Thailand (Dec 9–20). He achieved both, competing in the mixed aquathlon relay at the Games. 

Fencer Esther Tan, who was part of Singapore’s women’s epee team that won gold, said the trade-offs were relentless. A typical day started with lessons into early afternoon, followed by training from 3pm to 8pm, before she spent the rest of the night on homework and revision. Weekends were largely reserved for training and studying, on top of a course she took to obtain a coaching licence. 

For bowler Nur Irdina Hazly, the conflict between sport and school felt impossible to resolve at times. Irdina, who helped her team clinch a SEA Games bronze, said she eventually stepped back from training because she feared failing IB, but still struggled with the fear of falling behind as a teammate. 

SSP said the cohort reflected the growing demands placed on student-athletes. In December, 28 student-athletes graduated from the IBDP, with four of them — including Loh — also competing at the SEA Games. The school noted that it offers both the standard two-year IBDP pathway and an extended three-year option to better align academic planning with training and competition calendars. 

To help students keep pace, SSP provides structured academic support, including guidance from IBDP staff for those needing intervention and make-up learning for those away on competition leave through consultations and asynchronous online lessons.