Building Endurance, One Stroke at a Time: SUSS Dragon Boat at the Singapore Dragon Boat Festival 2026
Date: 28 Jun 2026
News Type:Event Highlights
School/Department: Student Success Centre
On 28 June 2026, the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) Dragon Boat Team competed in the DB22 Tertiary Mixed 500m event at the Singapore Dragon Boat Festival 2026. Taking on one of the most demanding races of the season, the team embraced the opportunity to challenge themselves beyond their usual strengths.
As a team that has primarily focused on sprint events, the 500m race tested not only physical endurance but also race strategy, teamwork, and mental resilience. While SUSS has enjoyed encouraging performances in shorter-distance races, competing over 500m remains an area the team continues to develop under the guidance of its coach, whom it has been training with for the past year and a half.
Group photo of the Dragon Boat Team.
Despite finishing fourth in both Round 1 (2:11.405) and Round 2 (2:08.877), the team celebrated a significant achievement. Compared to last year's Singapore Dragon Boat Festival, where they recorded timings of 2:32 and 2:34 in the same event, the team improved by more than 20 seconds. This remarkable progress reflects the discipline, consistency, and dedication invested in every training session over the past year.
Dragon Boat Team doing race visualisation before their race.
Dragon Boat Team loading up the boat before the Tertiary Mixed 500m race.
Every stroke on race day was a reflection of months of preparation. From visualising the race before the start to executing their race plan on the water, the team demonstrated composure, determination, and a shared commitment to giving their best against strong competition.
Dragon Boat Team warming up in the water.
Dragon Boat Team pushing on and giving their best despite the tough competition.
Although there is still room to grow in the 500m event, the experience reinforced an important lesson: progress is measured not only by podium finishes but also by the improvements made through perseverance and consistent effort. The substantial reduction in race timing is an encouraging milestone that motivates the team to continue strengthening their endurance and refining their performance.
With each competition, the SUSS Dragon Boat Team gains valuable experience and confidence. As they continue to build on this momentum, they remain committed to learning from every race, supporting one another, and striving for even greater achievements in the seasons ahead.