Nadia Lim touched the wall in the 100m Freestyle final in 57.11 — a new Malaysian national record, set on the fourth day of a five-day meet, by a swimmer who wasn't even sure she'd hold up physically to swim it. She finished fourth. No medal. She says she can't complain.
Born and raised in Dubai to a family from Ipoh, Perak, the 15-year-old only committed to swimming full-time during COVID — after years as an internationally competitive rhythmic gymnast. Atlas Poolside sat down with her after the 12th Asian Age Group Championships to talk about the record, the bronze that came two days before it, and what a Perak swimmer heading into SUKMA is hoping to prove.
100m Free — National Record
57.11
From Gymnastics Mats To Lane Ropes
Nadia grew up in Dubai, but her family is from Ipoh. She started swimming at four — a safety requirement, not a sporting ambition. Her real focus for most of her childhood was somewhere else entirely.
“At the time, my main sport was actually rhythmic gymnastics. I competed internationally and traveled to places like France and Turkey, so that was really my focus growing up,” she says. It was only during COVID, around age 10, that the balance tipped. “I had started enjoying swimming a lot more, and I wanted to see how far I could take it, so I decided to fully commit to swimming.”
Even the 100m Freestyle — the event that would carry her name into the record books — wasn't always the plan. “It wasn't always my main event. About a year ago, I started focusing more on freestyle, and that's when I really began improving. I found that I loved racing the 100 free because it's such a fast and exciting event, and it's become my favourite race.”
Eight Sessions A Week, In Dubai
Nadia trains out of Hamilton Aquatics in Dubai, a club she's been part of since her learn-to-swim days at age four. Her coach, Stuart Sant, has overseen her development for years, though the full-time partnership is more recent. “I've been training with him full-time for the past two years.”
The week is heavy: eight to nine swim sessions, each running just over two hours, with double sessions on Mondays and Fridays, gym and circuit work layered through the week, and Sunday reserved for recovery. Closer to competition, one gym session gets swapped for Pilates. “I've found that it really helps with my mobility, body control, and recovery, so it's become an important part of my preparation leading into races.”
The People Behind It
Ask Nadia who's gotten her here, and the answer starts at home. “My family has been one of my biggest supporters, especially my mum. She's the one who put me into sports when I was little and has been there at every competition, driving me to training and back. I've always wanted to make them proud because they've sacrificed so much to help me reach my goals.”
Her Hamilton Aquatics squad comes a close second. “My squad feels like one big family. Training with them every day pushes me to work harder, and having people who support you through both the good and the tough days makes a huge difference.”
But she's clear that a lot of it is internal too. “A lot of my motivation comes from myself. I've always wanted to see what I'm capable of and prove to myself how far I can go. That's what keeps me motivated every day, even when training gets hard.”
Day 4: The Record
57.11100m Freestyle — Malaysian National Record
By the fourth day of a five-day meet, Nadia had already swum multiple individual events and relays. “I was definitely really nervous. I was feeling pretty exhausted both physically and mentally... my biggest challenge was trusting that, even though I was tired, I was still capable of swimming a great race.”
The turning point came from her coach, pointing back to a swim two days earlier. “After my 200 freestyle, I'd made a big improvement from the heats to the final, and he reminded me that if I could do it in the 200 freestyle, I could do it again in the 100 freestyle. That gave me a lot of confidence.”
The race itself went to plan until the very end. “Coming into the last 25 metres, I knew I was close to the girls beside me, so I just put my head down and gave everything I had to the finish.”
What followed wasn't a glance at the scoreboard — it was the clock. “When I touched the wall, I wasn't even looking at my placing at first. I looked straight at my time and saw 57.11. I was really happy because I achieved my goal of breaking the Malaysian national record, so I couldn't complain. But at the same time, I was a little disappointed because I was so close to going 56 and winning a medal, so I just missed out on the podium. But once it all sank in, I was really proud of myself.”
Day 2: The Bronze She Didn't See Coming
3RD200m Freestyle
If the 100 Free was the headline, the 200 Free two days earlier is the moment Nadia keeps coming back to. “Going into that race, I honestly didn't think I had a chance of winning a medal. My main goal was just to swim a personal best, and I was hoping to go around 2:03–2:04.”
Somewhere in the last 25 metres, the race — and the meet — changed shape. “As I was breathing to the side, I could see the whole Malaysian team in the stands cheering and going absolutely crazy. That was such a special moment for me because hearing and seeing everyone supporting me gave me so much motivation. I also ended up seeing the Chinese swimmer a couple of lanes down from me, and I thought, 'Maybe I actually do have a chance at medaling.' From that point, I just put my head down and gave absolutely everything I had to the finish.”
“When I touched the wall, I could hear everyone cheering before I even looked up at the scoreboard, and then I just knew. I looked up and saw that I'd finished third, then looked over at the Malaysian team celebrating. That is such an unforgettable moment, and it's something I'll always remember.”
Outside of the racing itself, that team energy was the through-line of her meet. “My favourite part of the meet was getting to spend time with the Malaysian team. I also loved meeting swimmers from different countries and watching so many amazing races. Seeing that level of talent is really inspiring, and it motivates me to keep working hard and improving.”
Perak, And Sixteen Years
Before Beijing or the NCAA, there's a nearer target: SUKMA, representing the state her family calls home. “Representing Perak at SUKMA is something I'm really proud of. Personally, it would mean a lot to have a strong performance because I'd love to contribute to the team's success and make everyone who has supported me proud.”
The stakes go beyond her own result. “Perak hasn't won a swimming gold medal at SUKMA in 16 years, so if I could help change that, it would be an incredible honour. Perak isn't always one of the states people expect to dominate swimming, so I think it would be nice to show that we can compete with anyone. We might be seen as underdogs, but we've been working really hard, and I hope we can surprise a few people.”
“At the end of the day, I just want to do my best, contribute as many points as I can for the team, and make Perak proud.”
What's Next
The immediate target is international qualification. “One of my biggest goals next season is to qualify for the World Aquatics Short Course Championships in Beijing this December. I think that would be an incredible experience and a huge opportunity.”
Beyond that, the ambitions stack up fast: more national records, a shot at NCAA Division I swimming in the United States, and — the one she names last, the one that matters most. “In the long term, my biggest dream is to represent Malaysia at the Olympic Games. That's what motivates me to keep working hard every day.”
