At Wellington, swimming is more than just a sport; it is a committing journey to building confidence, discipline and courage.

What makes Wellington's swimming programme special? On 27 April, at our 'Swimming Pathway at Wellington Shanghai' event, Miguel Alvarado, Head of Aquatics, and Alex Wong, Assistant Head Swim Coach, shared their perspectives: our aim is not simply to produce champions but to create an environment where they are inevitable—by offering every pupil a clear pathway for building skill and character.

Peter Murison, Second Master, hosting the event

Miguel and Alex introducing the Wellington swimming pathway

From foundational water confidence to competing on the international stage, we have a pathway for swimmers at every level.

• Elite/Platinum: Competing at international standards, training to excel on any stage  

• Gold: Progressing towards professional competition standards

• Silver: Systematic advancement and all-round development

• Bronze: Fun-filled foundation building for structured training

• Learn-to-Swim: From confident submersion to independent swimming

• Recreational/Competition: Swim three strokes legally

Our coaching is built on five pillars—technical, tactical, physical, psychological and lifestyle. But we place the most importance on enjoyment and passion. Through gamified teaching, engaging challenges, reward systems and SWOLF efficiency scores, our coaching team transforms repetitive training into a motivating and fun experience.

In addition, our pool is open daily from 6am to 7pm, including Saturdays, and we offer training sessions at external 50-metre Olympic-standard pools to meet the needs of every squad member.

Ms Lori Payne, CEO and Director of Swimming at American College Connection (ACC) shared her experience with us in a video presentation, pointing out very clearly that international students planning to apply to US universities through swimming should begin the recruitment process no later than Year 10. Top universities look not only for consistent competitive performance but also for academic and personal excellence.

This is precisely the principle behind Wellington's swimming pathway and something which has already seen success. Our flexible yet structured system ensures pupils can develop their swimming while remaining on track academically. With the help of our specialist coaches and Higher Education Counsellors, every pupil can map out an educational pathway that aligns with their strengths and ambitions.

At the event's panel discussion, moderated by parent representative William, Aqualions members Ettore, Shannon, Tiffany and Valerie shared their experiences of growing up within the school squad.

Shannon (Year 10) holds two Malaysian national records and multiple league records. Ettore (Year 11) has progressed from silver medallist at the Italian Age Group Championships to national champion at the 2026 Italian Championships.

For them, swimming is far more than competition—it has taught them time management, enabling them to switch effectively between training and academics, as well as resilience under pressure. The sense of control gained in the pool helps them remain focused and calm, even when facing academic challenges.

This academic year, the Aqualions have celebrated many highlights: successfully hosting the first round of the Shanghai Swimming League and what has been described as the 'best ever' ACAMIS Senior Swim Championship. The team also performed well in the pool, winning the ACAMIS Senior Swim Championship overall trophy for the first time. The team also travelled to Singapore to compete, breaking over a dozen school records and two Malaysian national records as they continue to make their mark on the international stage.