Who can ever forget the tall and lanky Nurulaini Ariffin. I can vivdly remember her during National School, no one has so much presence than her. She’s been there and done it. This SEA Games bronze medalion talks from down under of track and her next phase in life

Your prev coach: Mr. Lim Tiang Quee / Mr. Hans-Peter Thumm / Mr. Tang Ngai Kin

School: CHIJ Pri (Toa Payoh) / CHIJ Secondary (Toa Payoh) / National JC

Personal Best: 100m – 12.26s (ET), 200m – 25.65s (ET)

Achievements: Bronze Medal Relay SEA Games 1997 / SNOC Meritorious Award 1995 / SNOC Good Performance Award 1996 / National Colours 1994 – 1997

1. How did you get started with Track & Field

   Nurul: I was a reserve at Pri School, for the relay team. When I went to Sec school, I was selected to represent my class in Athletics, and that’s where i met my first coach, Mr. Lim. And that’s when it all started

2. Are you still active in track?

   Nurul: No i am not. Though I still love it very much

3. Tell us what have you been up to these few years?

   Nurul: I’ve been at uni studying for an engineering degree

4. Describe a typical daily routine in your life now

   Nurul: Uni, uni, and more uni

5. Tell abit about your family, siblings, parents?

   Nurul: Dad’s a teacher, Mom’s a great mom (housewife), and 2 younger brothers, who are 21 and 17 this year

6. On your free time down under, what do you do?

   Nurul: Free time’s a luxury! Hard to come by really.. but i do get a chance, i’d normally spend it with my 3 great housemates!

7. Was winning SEA Games bronze relay your ultimate sporting achievement. Can u tell what was your feeling winning such a prestigious medal

   Nurul: I was stoked! It was unreal. I can vividly remember what I went through that night, when we were told we’d got the bronze

8. Do you still keep in contacts with your old track buddies?

   Nurul: I havent physically have contact with Hiranisha, Shieh Li and Mona (the relay team), but i’ve heard that they’re all alive and well, and that’s what really matters. i try hard to keep in touch with the girls in NJ and IJ

9. Previously How do you prepare before a race?

   Nurul: What was very important for me was how i prepared mentally. the night before the race, i’d probably try very hard to visualise what i want the race to look like, and how i want to feel. On the way to the race, i am normally very quiet and nothing can really distress me, cos it’s just me me and me. Of course, with respect to the diet and rest prior to competition was also important

10. What are usually your race tactics?

    Nurul: I wouldn’t exactly say i had tactics. But i would make myself go through a feeling. Once i could ascertain how i wanted to feel (that is to run a good race), it would normally go pretty well

11. During when u trained, per week what is your routine like

    Nurul: Training was every evening after lessons at school/college. training had a mixture of endurance, strength, and drills drills and more drills. the structure of a training session varied, according to the time i was on my training cycle plan :)

12. Any advise for young athlete venturing into track/field?

    Nurul: It’s all about the love and dedication… and heaps of sacrifices and time management

13. Any last comments or quotations?

    Nurul: The Will To Win Is Nothing Without The Will To Prepare

For someone who started out in track from the reserve, Nurul has made her mark on Singapore athletics scene and her contribution to track will echo and long remembered