Navy doctor attempts 115km Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming for St Luke’s Hospital starting this Thursday

In 2023, Dr Chua Jia Long became the first Singaporean to complete the 8 Bridges Hudson River Swim in New York, raising S$250,000 for our patients at St Luke’s Hospital (SLH).

In one of our catch-ups after that historic swim, he casually mentioned that he was dreaming of something more epic for SLH.

At the start of this year, he shared that he would be attempting the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming – one of the world’s toughest challenges, comprising three monumental swims: The Catalina Channel, around Manhattan Island, and the English Channel. 

Dr Jia Long will be enduring long, quiet swims totalling 115km – sometimes through the night and lasting more than 10 hours.

Training in Busan. “My regimen includes long-distance swims up to 10 hours, cold-water immersion sessions (ice baths and cold showers), strength training, and mental conditioning like visualisation and breathwork,” Dr Jia Long has said.

“Each location presents its own hurdles: Colder waters, strong and unpredictable currents, and encounters with marine life such as jellyfish and even sharks,” Dr Jia Long has said.

“On top of that, I am attempting to break the world record for the shortest time to complete the Triple Crown Swim. The current record stands at 27 days, but my goal is to complete all three swims within 14 to 17 days.”

If successful, Dr Jia Long of the Singapore Navy will be the first Singaporean to attempt this record-breaking feat in the shortest time. He has chosen to dedicate it to SLH – aiming to raise S$1.5 million to support our patients and 30th anniversary.

Dr Jia Long and wife (both centre) and the author, Prof Tan Boon Yeow (second from left), CEO of St Luke’s Hospital.

When our team met him and his wife, what struck me most was not only his passion, but the unity of vision they shared as a couple. With quiet courage, his wife shared how she would take no-pay leave to accompany and support him. It was a vivid reminder that no one undertakes such a challenge alone.

In this video, Dr Jia Long talks about training for the swim.

As we shook hands that evening, I realised that this was more than a sporting challenge – it was a calling, a journey of faith and perseverance that resonated deeply with SLH’s mission.

In reflecting on his endeavour, three challenges – that mirror the Christian faith – stand out.

1. The challenge of purpose

Said Jia Long: “When I think about perseverance, I am reminded of Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 11:26-30, where he recalls trials of shipwrecks, dangers, hunger and hardship – yet he pressed on, not for himself, but for the mission entrusted to him.”

At the heart of every monumental endeavour lies a piercing question: Why?

Why should Jia Long put his body through freezing waters, exhaustion, and the risk of failure? Why commit to something that brings no personal gain, no career advancement, no recognition beyond a record?

Dr Chua Jia Long covered 192km in open water during the 8 Bridges Hudson River Swim in New York. Photo by Samantha Chia.

What sustains such resolve is purpose.

Purpose empowers us to act in ways that may seem irrational to the world but are deeply aligned with conviction. Jia Long swims not for himself, but in solidarity with patients who struggle daily with illness, frailty and pain.

His motivation was birthed at SLH, where, as a medical officer in 2020, he witnessed how our team journeys alongside patients through pain, uncertainty and healing. Through this swim, he seeks to share their struggles and raise funds to support their journey of recovery.

“Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9)

2. The challenge of collaboration

A long-distance swim may look solitary, but it never is. No swimmer can cross oceans without a team behind him.

For a feat like the Triple Crown, support comes in many forms.

There is the medical and injury team, standing by to manage cramps, hypothermia, or unexpected strain on the body. There is the safety team – boats and kayaks that accompany the swimmer, guiding the route, watching for marine traffic, and ready to intervene if danger strikes.

A kayak accompanies Dr Jia Long during the 8 Bridges challenge. Screenshot of video by Samantha Chia.

There are sponsors and partners who provide resources to make the attempt possible, from travel and equipment to logistics and publicity. And there is the psychological support – family, friends and coaches who encourage the swimmer through moments of exhaustion and doubt.

Jia Long may be the one in the water, but every stroke is strengthened by this network of support.

SLH too, was birthed from collaboration. From the very beginning, the idea of a Christian hospital was not carried by one group alone, but by a collaboration of Christian doctors, nurses, and churches across denominations.

God divinely brought together believers from diverse backgrounds to form a pro-tem (temporary) committee to explore the concept of a Christian hospital supported by Christian organisations and churches.

The rest, as they say, is history. SLH was formed by eight different organisations, which to this day continue to be represented on our board and remain unwavering in their support.

Even now, collaboration is in our DNA. SLH is one of the few charity-owned hospitals in Singapore, with the majority in either public or private sectors.

While we do not own the full spectrum of healthcare or community care services, we are able to create a true continuum of care for our patients, especially those with complex needs, through inter-agency partnerships — with community providers, churches, and volunteers.

Collaboration is not always straightforward, but it is critical for success. Just as no swimmer can cross oceans alone, SLH’s ministry is sustained because we journey together.

“For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.” (Romans 12:4–5)

3. The challenge of the unknown

Perhaps the greatest challenge for any open-water swimmer is not physical exhaustion, but the unknown.

Unlike pool swimming — where conditions are predictable, lanes are marked, and distances fixed — open-water swimming means venturing into an environment you cannot control. There are no clear boundaries, no guarantees, and no certainty of what lies beneath or ahead.

For many, the unknown is paralysing: Fear of failure, fear of the unseen below, fear of what lies beyond precedent. Beyond physical strain, there are psychological hurdles: Managing doubt, anxiety, and the loneliness of being alone in open waters for hours on end.

Jia Long has trained rigorously – daily swims, 10-hour weekend sessions, repeated ice baths to condition his body for cold waters, and even a qualifying swim in Korea to prove his readiness for the English Channel. Yet no matter how disciplined the preparation, the ocean will always hold surprises.

“Preparing for the Triple Crown attempt has meant doubling down on cold-water acclimatisation, precise nutrition strategies, and mental conditioning to endure long hours of solitude at sea,” said Jia Long. Screenshot of video by Samantha Chia.

On the day itself, he may face calm seas or violent swells. The currents may carry him forward swiftly or drag him backwards for hours. The water may be icy cold, threatening hypothermia. Marine life may cross his path unexpectedly. For the open-water swimmer, uncertainty is the only certainty.

No amount of planning can fully eliminate these uncertainties. We may not control the tides, but we trust the One who does.

And like Jia Long, we keep moving forward — not because the waters are predictable, but because our faith is firm.

“But now, this is what the Lord says, He who is your Creator, Jacob, And He who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine! “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you.” ‭‭(Isaiah‬ ‭43‬:‭1‬-‭2‬) ‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Questions to reflect on 

1. Which of these challenges – purpose, collaboration or the unknown – are you facing now? What might God be saying to you through it?

2. How do you navigate the unknown future? How is God guiding or reassuring you?

How you can partner the swim for hope

Dr Jia Long’s swim to raise $1.5 million for SLH begins this Thursday, September 4, 2025.

As I watch him plunge into the waters once again for SLH, I am reminded that his story is not just about endurance, but about faith, purpose, and hope.

Next year marks a significant milestone for St Luke’s Hospital: 30 years of God’s faithfulness in enabling us to serve, love, and heal our community. For almost three decades, we have navigated challenges, adapted to change, and continued to bring hope and healing to those entrusted to our care.

Our vision for 2030, Beacon of Light, is to be the Christian healthcare provider of choice, guiding patients and families through the storms of illness with the steady light of hope.

We will continue to strengthen our Clinical, Social, and Pastoral model of care, addressing not only physical needs but also emotional, social, and spiritual well-being.

The refreshment of our Bukit Batok campus will create an enhanced environment for healing, positioning SLH to meet future needs, and enabling us to serve more people with excellence and compassion.

As Jia Long swims for SLH, I invite you to come alongside us. Your support will help us power through the waves of challenge – bringing hope and healing to every patient we are called to serve.

Follow his progress during the swim and support the fundraiser here.

* All donations are eligible for 250% tax deduction and will be matched dollar-for-dollar, doubling their impact.

“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat… whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” Matthew 25:35–40 

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