#59. Quinntessential Questions with UK Shyam: Singapore's Fastest Man for 22 Years: 10.37s in the 100m
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In this episode of The Quinntessential Questions Podcast, Paul Quinn sits down with UK Shyam, Singapore's National 100m Record Holder (10.37s, 2001-2023) and Teacher at Raffles Institution. From joining athletics at 16 with no competitive background to breaking C. Kunalan's record and holding it for for 22 years, Shyam shares his remarkable journey from late starter to national legend.
He discusses starting track at an age considered "ancient" in sprinting, training with makeshift equipment when resources disappeared, competing at the Asian Games alongside World Championship athletes like Nobuharu Asahara, and why becoming the first full-time athlete to study at NUS presented both opportunities and challenges.
Shyam also opens up about the difficult decision to transition from athletics to education, and shares his admiration for humble champions like Frankie Fredericks and the dominance of Michael Johnson's 19.32 world record.
Whether you're an athlete navigating career transitions, a sports enthusiast who appreciates technical excellence, or someone interested in the parallels between high performance and intellectual pursuit, this conversation offers insights on resilience, mentorship, and knowing when your next chapter begins. Let's explore what it takes to be the fastest man in Singapore.
Guest Bio
UK Shyam is a retired Singaporean track and field athlete. He held the Singaporean national record over the 100m with a timing of 10.37s for 22 years. He broke the 33-year-old record of 10.38s (set by C. Kunalan) at the World University Games in Beijing in 2001. He equalled his own national record soon after at the 2001 Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur.
Minutes
(01:59) Introduction
(03:10) Growing Up Singapore & Falling in Love with Sports
(04:40) Journey into Track
(05:14) Carl Lewis, Ben Johnson, Linford Christie
(08:20) Studying at Raffles Junior College
(10:38) Neurological Pathways & Getting Constant Reps In
(11:58) Shanti Pereira
(13:09) Crossing Paths with Mr. Kunalan
(13:46) Pietro Mennea
(17:39) Roger Bannister
(18:07) Training Regime
(20:52) Breakthrough
(21:20) Sebastian Keitel
(23:48) Importance of a Coach
(27:25) Weight Fluctuation
(30:36) Breaking the National Record
(31:12) Kishane Thompson
(31:33) Noah Lyles
(32:49) Darren Campbell
(34:40) Linford Christie
(36:32) Personal Bests in Training
(38:56) Trayvon Bromell, Marcell Jacobs, Asafa Powell
(40:52) Donovan Bailey
(41:30) Nobuharu Asahara
(42:52) Talent & Environment
(43:30) Justin Gatlin
(44:01) Ryan Bailey & Yohan Blake
(46:00) Mechanics of Speed
(48:01) Ground Contact & Force
(49:15) Retiring Prematurely
(50:10) Joseph Schooling
(51:15) Studying at NUS as a Full Time Athlete
(53:01) Timothy Yeo
(56:21) Media Backlash
(59:31) Becoming an Educator
(01:01:43) The Importance of Letting Go
(01:06:13) Masters in Strategic Communications
(01:07:15) Writing a Book
(01:11:00) Rapid Fire QuestionsBehind-The-Scenes
