For Singaporean lifesaver Huey Min Tey, selection for the Lifesaving World Championships 2026 is another opportunity to build on a competitive journey that began when she first took up lifesaving as a polytechnic student.

Tey initially joined lifesaving to learn how to swim and work as a lifeguard to help earn money for school, but quickly found herself drawn into competition. Since then, she has continued to compete while balancing her lifesaving career with full-time work.

A returning LWC athlete after competing at the 2024 Lifesaving World Championships on the Gold Coast, Tey will take on a packed program across the pool, ocean and beach events in 2026, including Beach Sprint, Oceanwoman, Beach Flags, Surf Ski Race, Board Race, Super Lifesaver, SERC and several relay events.

We caught up with Huey Min to find out more about her lifesaving journey, preparation and ambitions for LWC2026.

What does being selected for the Lifesaving World Championships 2026 mean to you personally?

Being selected for the Lifesaving World Championships 2026 means a lot to me. I’m looking forward to gaining new experiences, learning from other athletes, and using it to grow and improve as an athlete.

Can you share a bit about your background in lifesaving and how you first got involved in the sport?

I first got into lifesaving as an extracurricular activity in polytechnic, where I learned how to swim. Initially, I joined to be a lifeguard to earn some money for school, but I soon got pulled into competitions and found that I really enjoyed it. I’ve been competing ever since.

Who has had the biggest influence on your lifesaving career, and in what way?

My teammates and everyone behind the scenes who have rallied behind the team have had the biggest influence on my lifesaving journey. They made the tough decisions, overcame challenges and pushed for progress, which has helped me become the athlete I am today.

Can you give us an insight into your preparation or training leading into Worlds? What does a typical week look like for you?

While working a full-time job, I balance five to six swim sessions a week with gym and lifesaving-specific training. Leading into Worlds, I focus on race-specific work and sharpening the small details.

Which events will you be competing in, and what are you most looking forward to?

I’ll be competing mainly in the fins events in the pool, as well as the ocean and beach events. I’m especially looking forward to racing in the ocean and on the beach, as it’s always a different challenge from the pool.

What are your expectations for the competition?

Achieving PBs in my events, managing pressure better and trusting myself to execute the skills consistently. At the previous edition, I could have stayed more composed in high-pressure moments.

What’s one thing you’d like people to know about you, either as an athlete or outside the sport?

One fun fact about me is that I can be really terrible with motor coordination at times, especially outside of the sports I train for!