Focus on Abilities — Testimonials

Para-equestrian began for me, as it did for many other para-athletes, as a form of therapy and social engagement. When it evolved into a high-performance sport, it became clear that we needed to train in Europe and find a suitable horse. As a para rider, I required a support team for these extended and frequent training trips. My father quit his job, and with our savings, we headed to Germany where our coach was located and to acquire a horse.

During my preparation for the Rio 2016 Paralympics, I was awarded the spexScholarship, which allowed me to train and travel more frequently. This alleviated our financial burden significantly. However, this support was short-lived. Following our performance at Rio 2016, I was dropped from the scholarship program.

This left me in a difficult position. I had a horse stabled in Germany that required ongoing maintenance, and we had already begun preparing for the next Paralympics. It felt like the rug had been pulled out from under us. We considered quitting the sport entirely, but I still had the desire to ride, compete, and qualify for Tokyo 2020.

To continue funding my Paralympic qualification efforts, I began looking for a job, and my father took on part-time work. Finding employment as a two-time Paralympian wasn’t easy. While potential employers were impressed by my achievements, they were also concerned about the extensive training hours and potential absences. Seeking employment as both an athlete and a person with a disability required persistence, perseverance, and a refusal to be discouraged by the lack of responses.

After months of searching and with assistance from SG Enable, I secured a job in Human Resources with an MNC. I was fortunate that my employer saw my sports background as an asset, recognising athletes as resilient, determined, focused, and high achievers. They accommodated my frequent training trips through hybrid work arrangements, for which I am very grateful.

Balancing a full-time job with training was challenging, especially managing the time difference between Europe and Singapore. Despite the sacrifices, I was happy to be financially responsible for my training and my job duties. I was in a fulfilling mental state, working to achieve my ambitions and maximise my potential. This situation truly exemplifies the saying, “where there’s a will, there’s a way.”

As I grow older and face the prospect of retiring from sports, I’m grateful that my dual-career experience—though initially reluctant—will help ease the transition.

It’s never too early to start preparing for your transition after retiring from doing sports, and I believe that there are many benefits to pursuing a dual career. You never know what will happen in the future and things can change very quickly, so it’s better to prepare yourself early and that can help you now and also for the future. Fortunately, we are also developing a sports infrastructure to support athletes in this transition. You may speak to us at the Singapore Para Athlete Commission for guidance.

— Maximillian (Max) Tan, Para Equestrian Paralympian