SUF Elson Koh and Roxanne Soon Find Strength Through Finswimming

For Sunway University Foundation students Elson Koh Ae Shang and Roxanne Soon Hui Nee, finswimming has become more than just a sport. While their journeys into the discipline have been different, both have found a space where they can challenge themselves, overcome setbacks and discover just how far determination can take them.

At 18, Elson has already explored his fair share of sports, including football, volleyball and even baseball. It was only towards the end of 2023, however, that he found his stride in finswimming.

He made an immediate impression. At his first finswimming competition, Elson won gold in all his events and set a national record in the process. Seeing the opportunities that competitive finswimming could offer, he decided to commit himself fully to the sport.

The transition from traditional swimming to finswimming was not without its challenges, but Elson adapted quickly and soon found that the discipline suited him. His dedication has continued to pay off, with two gold medals at the Malaysia University Finswimming Championship 2026, held at Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology (TARUMT).

For Elson, though, the appeal of finswimming goes beyond competition. He describes the time in the water as a source of calm, particularly when the pressure of competition begins to build.

Before a race, Elson often finds himself overwhelmed by nerves. But once he gets into the water, those worries seem to fade. “I come back feeling relaxed, as though a burden has been lifted off my shoulders,” he shared.

Like any competitive athlete, Elson has also had to learn to deal with disappointment. While he admits that he does not take losses well at first, he has learned to channel them into motivation.

“I don’t take losses well at first, but eventually I realise there’s nothing I can do about it. The only thing I can do is train harder and come back better next time,” he said.

That determination was put to the test when Elson tore his ACL during a friendly football match. The injury meant he had to miss the Southeast Asia Age Group Championships in Thailand, where he had qualified to compete in traditional swimming and represent Selangor.

It was a difficult setback, but Elson chose to focus on recovery instead. Around six months later, he returned to competition at the State Championships and achieved one of his best-ever timings. The result gave him a renewed sense of confidence.

“If I can do this well six months into recovery, imagine what I can do at my best?” he recalled thinking.

His father has also played an important role in shaping his sporting journey. Having introduced Elson to both traditional swimming and finswimming, he continues to encourage Elson to compete, improve and strive to become the best version of himself.

That encouragement extends to academics too. Currently pursuing his Foundation studies at Sunway, Elson sets aside dedicated time for assignments and exam preparation while making sure he still has time to unwind with family and friends and enjoy his favourite music.

For Roxanne, 19, finswimming represents a new chapter in a sporting journey that began much earlier. She started competing in traditional swimming at the age of 12 before eventually stepping away from competitive swimming. After returning to the sport, she took on a new challenge by adding finswimming to her repertoire.

After two years of training, Roxanne has made an impressive return to competitive sport. At the Malaysia University Finswimming Championship 2026, she secured six gold medals and one silver.

Part of what attracted Roxanne to finswimming was its relatively niche nature. She saw the sport as an opportunity to compete internationally and potentially represent Malaysia. Her training schedule reflects that ambition, with weekday sessions, gym workouts and twice-daily training on weekends.

One of the highlights of her journey came when she represented Malaysia at the World Championships in Korea. She achieved a personal-best timing while also making new friends and meeting athletes from different countries.

Behind Roxanne’s progress is a strong support system, particularly her mother, whom she describes as one of her biggest sources of support. From helping her through difficult periods to encouraging her sporting ambitions, her mother has remained a constant presence throughout her journey.

Roxanne has also navigated significant challenges beyond the pool. Living with dermatomyositis, an autoimmune condition, she has experienced hospitalisations and serious health challenges, including a period when she faced the possibility of losing her mobility.

Her experiences have given her an even greater appreciation for the role swimming plays in her life. Rather than allowing these challenges to hold her back, Roxanne has continued to train, compete and pursue her goals.

That same determination can be seen in her approach to academics. Despite juggling training, competitions and coaching young swimmers, Roxanne makes it a priority to stay on top of her studies. She aims to complete assignments early and uses the time between training sessions to catch up on her studies.

Her experiences have also influenced her aspirations beyond sport. Roxanne once hoped to become a nurse after being inspired by the healthcare professionals who supported her during difficult periods in hospital. Today, she is exploring a future in biomedicine and has considered pursuing immunology, with the hope of contributing to better outcomes for others facing similar challenges.

For both Elson and Roxanne, finswimming has become a journey of much more than medals and personal-best timings. It has taught them to embrace challenges, recover from setbacks and make the most of every opportunity.

As they continue balancing sport, studies and their ambitions for the future, both Sunwayians are showing that some of the most valuable lessons learned in the pool can extend well beyond it.