(from left) Celeste Beh, Allen Ong, Chan Jun Jian and Terence Ng came together to set up AeroSplash Swim Academy.
KUALA LUMPUR: Former national swimming champion Allen Ong has shifted his mission from winning international medals to building swimmers from the grassroots with the launch of his own academy.
The 46-year-old Allen, who was a SEA Games 100m freestyle champion, said his decision was driven by a desire to give back to the sport that shaped his life.
“I wanted to do something for the community and give back to the swimming society,” said the Perak-born Allen, whose sister Cindy Ong is also a former national swimmer.
Allen, known as the king of freestyle sprint in his heyday, believes that Malaysian swimming, which is in decline, must be rebuilt from the bottom up, starting with proper fundamentals at young ages rather than relying solely on a small group of elite athletes.
“It has to start somewhere, and this is where swimming academies play an important role, setting young swimmers on the right footsteps,” he said.
AeroSplash Swim Academy, located at Wisma Kah Moto on Jalan Ipoh, features a 25-metre, five-lane indoor heated pool and officially opened its doors last month.
Despite its modest setup, the centre has already attracted about 50 students in its first month of operation, a response Allen sees as proof of strong community interest in structured grassroots swimming.
“At my place, we focus on grooming the younger generation from learning how to swim to proper drills that will help them in the future,” he said.
Allen, who partners with swimmers Terence Ng and Chan Jun Jian, and triathlete Celeste Beh to run the academy, believes the blend of experience and new ideas will help produce a stronger pipeline of future swimmers for the country.
“As ex-national swimmers, we know the route to the top, and with that experience, we can help guide the new generation,” he added.
Read original article at: https://www.nst.com.my/sports/others/2025/12/1331717/allen-hopes-help-rebuild-malaysian-swimming