Hugo's Story of Resilience, Family Support, and "Happy Swimming"

From his childhood, Hugo has shared a special bond with water. From neighbourhood pools to nursery swimming classes, he maintained a steadfast passion for swimming. Yet there was also a deeper reason behind his pursuit of this skill. As a child, Hugo experienced febrile seizures, and doctors recommended strengthening his immunity to reduce recurring fevers. Since high-intensity land sports were unsuitable for young children, swimming became the perfect choice.

To everyone's delight, Hugo demonstrated superb aquatic awareness and rapid learning. He quickly mastered swimming techniques and grew deeply fond of the water. During his time at Nursery, he especially treasured swimming classes. Even after school, he would often stay by the pool voluntarily, continuing to engage with the water.

After enrolling at the primary school of Wellington College Hangzhou, Hugo's swimming potential received dedicated cultivation and support. Recognising his exceptional aquatic talent, the school exceptionally admitted first-grade Hugo to its swimming team, encouraging him to represent the school in various competitions. From Hangzhou's Mayor's Cup to international swimming leagues, each time Hugo dives into the pool, he embodies the collaborative support of both school and family.

"This is an ideal model of home-school collaboration," said Hugo’s mother. "The school provides professional training platforms and resources, while our family offers emotional support and structured guidance, allowing Hugo to focus wholeheartedly on the sport he loves."

At the HISAC Swim Meet, Hugo was crowned the Age 9-10 Overall Champion. His winning performances included gold medals in the 50 SC Meter Backstroke and the 200 SC Meter IM, along with silver medals in the 200 SC Meter Medley Relay and the 200 SC Meter Freestyle Relay.

At the 2025 FOBISIA Swimming Invitational held in Phuket, Thailand, Hugo captured the age group champion title.

Wellington College Hangzhou not only offers flexible training arrangements and values parental input, but also fully incorporates families' suggestions when developing its swimming programme. The school actively pursues high-level competitive opportunities for pupils, including making history as Hangzhou's first international school to host a competition at an Asian Games venue, giving swimmers the opportunity to perform in a world-class aquatic facility.

As Hugo's swimming abilities progressed, he began aspiring to more advanced training. His parents actively pursued professional development opportunities for him, and Hugo finally earned a place on the prestigious Hangzhou Swimming Team after successfully passing multiple selection trials.

The support for Hugo's swimming development arises not just from his evident talent and passion, but from the virtuous cycle created between home and school. The school's robust support, Hugo's growing sense of accomplishment, and his family's complete commitment collectively generate the powerful momentum driving his progress. 

The competitive sports journey inevitably has its highs and lows. During the Shanghai Rocket Cup, Hugo faced an emotional crisis as his post-surgery condition affected his performance, and he nearly withdrew from the relay event. At this pivotal moment, his parents and coaches immediately supported him to channel his emotions by saying, "The relay represents team honour, and true growth lies in meeting challenges with composure."

Through the prompt response and coordinated support of his family and school, Hugo recalibrated his mindset and regained his confidence. He went on to not only help his team win first place in their group but also achieve a new personal best. This experience became a powerful testament to how growth emerges through repeatedly stumbling and rising again.

Hugo has participated in numerous competitions from traditional academic system competitions to inter-school meets, league championships, international events, and smaller local contests. His mother maintains that the true essence of sports transcends mere victory or defeat and that swimming serves as a vital medium for social connection and cross-cultural exchange.

His competitive experience in Japan revealed how comprehensive sports education extends through all phases from before, during and after a competition. The enduring legacy Hugo has gained through swimming transcends medals; it includes cultural exchange opportunities, a deeper understanding of athletic etiquette, and holistic personal development nurtured through the sport.

As Hugo's training intensified, his schedule grew increasingly demanding: daily sessions of 2 to 2.5 hours, covering 5,000 to 6,000 meters. What a formidable challenge for a primary school pupil. Since last year, his parents have proactively optimised his training environment, ensuring Hugo retains the joys of childhood while pursuing his passion for swimming.

"We want swimming to be his lifelong companion, not just a short-term competitive obligation," Hugo's mother emphasised. With Wellington College Hangzhou's support, Hugo has excelled academically while cultivating exceptional focus and time management skills. "Though training consumes much of his time, it has taught him efficient learning habits, an invaluable gift from swimming."

For most student-athletes and artists, time management remains a constant challenge. Yet through collaborative support from home and school, Hugo has developed exceptional focus and time allocation skills. His rigorous swimming training has forged these very abilities of intense concentration and efficient scheduling. The school further nurtures this by granting pupils autonomy and understanding while cultivating their ability to plan and manage time.

Hugo's mother specifically mentioned that the support from the school teachers has been exceptionally timely and effective. Not only do they closely monitor Hugo's daily academic progress, but they also proactively provide personalized academic support whenever his training or competitions require adjustments. They precisely address any gaps in his knowledge.

This meticulous academic assistance has effectively ensured that Hugo's learning pace remains synchronized with his class, while solidly maintaining the quality of his education. This gives parents great peace of mind and allows the child to focus wholeheartedly on pursuing his athletic dreams.

"My dream is to participate in the NCAA in the United States as a student-athlete in the future. With my school and family's full support, I'm confident I'll go far."

Reflecting on Hugo's swimming journey, he has been profoundly fortunate to have coaches and teachers who mentor with care, a school that provides unwavering training support, and a family offering steadfast encouragement. This exceptional home-school collaboration has broadened his aquatic path, allowing him to glide effortlessly through the pool while advancing steadily on his growth trajectory, composing his own extraordinary narrative.

As his mother observes, "Swimming mirrors his life; every stroke propels him toward becoming his better self." In this voyage, the partnership between home and school shines as the warmest guiding beacon.