By Jeanette Wang

SCOTT Ang will be Singapore's only representative at the upcoming International Triathlon Union (ITU) World Junior Camp and World Championships Junior race.

But, don't ask him when the camp ends. 'I forgot,' said Scott, the only Singaporean selected for the Aug 29-Sept 8 camp and the Sept 13 race, both on Australia's Gold Coast.

For a top student, he has a surprisingly bad memory. How old is your father, who works in a marine heavy lift services company, and housewife mother?

'Uh... I'm not sure,' replied the Singapore Sports School Secondary 4 student, who topped his cohort last year and in this year's mid-year examinations.

What was the gist of your speech on volunteerism that won you an international speech competition last year?

'I can't quite remember.'

Forgetfulness may not be a desirable trait, but speak to the 15-year-old and you will understand why he is so.

Some people memorise and fantasise. He prefers to live in the moment, through logic, realism and understanding.

The second of three sons, he is articulate, uses carefully chosen words, and boasts a maturity beyond his age.

Physics, he explained, is his best subject due to its logical and tangible nature.

Scott approaches his fledgling triathlon career in similar fashion, setting realistic goals rather than lofty dreams.

'I don't want to make unrealistic expectations of myself,' he said, when asked for his target for next year's inaugural Youth Olympic Games (YOG).

'I haven't had much exposure to overseas athletes, so I don't know where I stand.'

In the eyes of ITU officials, he is an athlete with immense potential.

Impressed by Scott at the ITU Asian Junior Select Camp at the Sports School in March, ITU coaches and sport development director Libby Burrell hand-picked him to be among 30 international athletes at the World Junior Camp.

There, he will advance his skills and knowledge under the watchful eye of some of the best triathlon coaches in the world.

Scott was also invited to be part of the 62-athlete field for the World Championships Elite Junior men's event, which most participants had to qualify for through continental championships.

Earlier this month, he topped the YOG squad trials. He finished the 750m swim, 20km cycle and 5km run - also known as the Sprint distance - in 1hr 8min 7sec, over two minutes ahead of the field.

That gained him selection to a five-athlete YOG squad, who will race the Asian Championships in Incheon, South Korea on Friday, a YOG qualifier.

'He has a world-class swim, though he needs quite a lot more work on his run and his bike,' said Scott's coach Eugene Lee, an ITU Level 2 accredited coach.

'He hasn't done much work, but is where he is because he's a talented boy.'

A former top age-group swimmer, Scott ditched the pool for triathlons about two years ago, when he realised he was more successful in the latter.

Now, he swims, bikes or runs (or does a combination of the three) twice a day on average, with workouts bookending lessons from 9am to 4pm on weekdays.

The next few weeks, when he will don national colours for the first time overseas, will no doubt be an eye-opener.

'It will be a really great opportunity to see where I stand on the world stage,' said Scott. 'I'm just going to think positive and try my best. From there, knowing what I have to work on, I'll return and improve for the Youth Olympic Games.'

Spoken like a true realist.

This article was first published in The Straits Times.