Jonathan Hoare and Anson Loh Win NSG Titles Inspired by Idols

The National School Games track and field championships concluded on April 15, 2026, with Hwa Chong Institution’s Jonathan Hoare securing a double gold in the A Division boys’ sprint events, while Raffles Institution’s Anson Loh claimed victory in the discus throw by adopting pre-competition rituals inspired by their athletic idols.

Hoare won the A Division boys’ 100m final in 10.81 seconds at the National Stadium, overcoming nerves by imitating Olympic champion Marcell Jacobs’ pre-race ritual of crossing his arms tightly against his chest while imagining holding a baby. This technique helped him finish ahead of Raffles Institution’s Wang Qiyue (10.90 seconds) and defending champion Joshua Lee of Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) (10.98 seconds).

Two days prior at Choa Chu Kang Stadium, Hoare had already won the A Division boys’ 200m title, marking his first gold medals in the A Division after previously winning the 100m and 200m events in the B Division the year before.

Reflecting on his achievement, Hoare said: “I’m over the moon. Getting two golds in my first year of A Division feels like a really big accomplishment. Before this, my only golds were last year’s B Division (in the 100m and 200m).”

In the field events, Loh won the A Division boys’ discus competition by adopting the ritual of Olympic discus champion Daniel Stahl to manage pressure following an inconsistent performance earlier in the event.

Other notable performances at the championships included Sommer Lim breaking a 21-year record in the C Division girls’ 1,500m and Chloe Tan winning the A Division girls’ 100m title.