BY CHIA HAN KEONG

SINGAPOREANS have every reason to be proud of swimmer Tao Li yesterday.

Even though she failed to clinch an Olympic medal in the women's 100m butterfly, her charge into the final was impressive on its own.

Not only was she the first Singaporean swimmer to reach an Olympic final, but she also set the Asian record for the event in both the heats and semi-finals.

But it was telling that, after the race, she said she had never expected to do so well and was thrilled just to be in the final.

"I tried my best, but was just too tired after the heats and semi-finals," she said.

Yet, this is what separates the medal winners from the rest of the field - they know exactly what it takes to get the medals.

Tao went into uncharted territory yesterday, and began far too tentatively to put herself in contention to win a medal.

Perhaps, when she finds herself in another Olympic final, she will have a better understanding of how to win amid all the top swimmers.

Instead of "trying her best", she will know how to "do her best" and win.

Singapore's top shuttler, Ronald Susilo, also failed to get past Malaysia's world No.2 Lee Chong Wei, losing in straight games yesterday.

Like Tao, Susilo has always promised to "try his best" in every top tournament. Maybe if he wills himself to "do his best", he can have a better shot.

hankeong@sph.com.sg

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