SEA Games 2025 - It’s Everyone’s Dream to Make the SEA Games. If you work hard and put in the time, you’ll get there: Vanessa Lee
- Hana Basir
- 8 hours ago
- 4 min read
Set to take on the 33rd SEA Games with her close friends, Vanessa Lee delves into her pride for her friends, restructuring her mindset and her season so far leading up to Thailand 2025
With six national records to her name, it’s little wonder Vanessa Lee stands as the ace of Singapore’s distance running. To everyone on the outside looking in, it may look like a given for the 27-year-old to step onto a podium—something that’s easy for the confident Team Singapore runner.
But like everything, there’s a story behind how she became the runner she is today—a chapter marked by moments when confidence felt painfully out of reach.
“I actually had a change in mindset a few years back because I used to have a very toxic relationship with my mental health when it came to racing and competing. I would cry before races because I felt the weight of people's expectations of me to hit a certain timing. Honestly, if you ask me about people’s expectations of me now, how do I say this?” she paused, a soft smile surfacing as she searched for the right words.
“I’d say that I only run and perform for myself. As long as I can live with my results and my own expectations, that’s all that matters. ”
Vanessa, who made her Southeast Asian (SEA) Games debut in 2023 at the 32nd edition in Cambodia, is set to stage her second appearance this December at the 33rd SEA Games in Thailand.
Initially only qualifying for the 5,000m event, Vanessa was nominated to compete in the 10,000m and 3,000m steeplechase—all events in which her name already tops Singapore’s record books. Ultimately pulling out of the 10,000m event, Vanessa still hopes to perform in the 5,000m and the 3,000m steeplechase.
“At the last SEA Games, I was in the middle of the entire pack so I came in sixth and seventh for my events. I definitely want to be contending in the front pack this year. Hitting last year's bronze mark and qualifying for this edition, in theory, puts me in a good chance to reach the podium. But of course, every year it changes and your competitors become stronger so you never know,” she shared.
“I pulled out of the 10,000m because honestly, doing three events in the span of one week is crazy, especially in the SEA Games climate. The 5,000m will be my first priority."
A Team of Friends, History in the Making
It’s admittedly been a long season for the 27-year-old, shattering record after record with her friends—particularly Shaun Goh—with the duo setting out to Australia several times this year as a hunting ground to set new records and reach new heights.
But with the goal of running in the front pack in Bangkok this year, Vanessa has had to up the ante. Though she was initially supposed to put an end to her season earlier, she couldn’t resist the desire of running a good half marathon.
And she did just that in September this year at the Run Prix 2025 in Melbourne, Australia.
Clocking in a time of 1:18:07, Vanessa found herself emotional at the finish line as she became the second fastest woman in Singapore to run the half marathon once again, taking the place of her coach and close friend Nicole Low.
The duo have been known to dominate races ever since they stepped onto the stage. After countless memories together, the two marked a little personal milestone at the Garmin Run Asia Series Singapore 2025, where they raced and finished the 10km event side by side for the first time—now an iconic finish line moment etched into their careers forever.
And now, Nicole will be joining Vanessa at the SEA Games for the first time, set to make her debut in both the 5,000m and the Modern Pentathlon.
“It’s been 10 years since we started running, guys. 10!” she beamed.
“I’m just so happy for her and I’m so happy we’re going together. She’s my day one. And it’s finally happening.”
It’s not just Nicole who fills Vanessa with pride this year. Her friends—who feel more like family—Shaun Goh, Henry He, Goh Shing Ling and Richard Heng are also among those joining Singapore’s biggest SEA Games athletics contingent yet.
“It’s a very exciting contingent of athletes and it’s amazing they all qualified. Richard is a close friend and it’s so amazing to see him go because it’ll be his debut at the SEA Games too.”
Putting in the hard work
After taking a two week break post Run Prix, Vanessa’s full focus shifted to the SEA Games—with a focus on working on different paces.
“We’ll definitely run a little more strategically at the SEA Games. So for this, you have to work on changing your gears towards the end of the race. We’ll be working on the different paces. Since I already did the half marathon recently, I’ll start working on more speed,” she shared.
“For example, we’ll do 800m intervals. We can do 600m at an 84s pace and then the last 200m at a faster pace. This trains you to change gears.”
With the climate and competitors constantly changing at the biennial regional competition, it’s a race that's never predictable.
“You just have to train as hard as you can and give it your all on race day,” said Vanessa.
“You don’t see your opponents, how they’re performing and how they’re training so you never know.”
With it being Singapore’s most ambitious group yet set to take Suphachalasai Stadium by and the streets of Bangkok by storm, Vanessa hopes that this year’s campaign will inspire both the future and current generation of Singapore athletics.
“As the SEA Games contingent gets larger, it’s definitely something hopeful for the younger athletes. I hope that they are more inspired. I feel like it’s everyone’s dream to make the SEA Games—whether you’re a distance runner, jumper, thrower, sprinter,” she smiled.
“It’s very nice to see the contingent getting larger and that more people are qualifying. It’s been 10 years since I started running. Looking back at everything, if you work hard and put in the time, you’ll get there.”
Vanessa will begin her campaign with the 5,000m event on 13th December, followed by the 3,000m Steeplechase.