Some swimmers chase open water glory for the thrill. Others for the podium. But for Howie Loh, the 21-year-old swim coach from Ipoh, it’s always been something deeper, a life in water that began before he even understood what “swimming” was.

“I was born and raised in Ipoh, Perak,” Howie shares. “I’ll turn 21 this year. I’m a full-time swim coach and teacher, so if I don’t have lessons in the morning, I usually use that time to train myself, then teach swimming in the evening.”

From those early laps under his father’s watchful eye to becoming a full-time swim coach himself, Howie’s relationship with water has evolved, but never faded. “My father taught me how to swim when I was just four, and I started competing in pool swimming by the time I was seven,” he explains. “But I only tried open water swimming when I was 14 at Bukit Merah Lake, after a doctor and open water enthusiast, Dr Ng Seng Yew, introduced me to it.”

Howie recalls meeting Dr Ng at a swimming pool while training solo. “He told me I had potential for long-distance swimming. Before that, I had never swum more than 200 metres in a row, but he pushed me to try swimming 1,500 metres nonstop.”

That push was the spark that set a slow-burning passion alight. It wasn’t an instant love affair. It grew with every metre. “Last year, at Kapas Marang 2024, I placed 6th overall, and I realised my body could do more than I thought,” he says. “I wasn’t very satisfied with my placing, and that moment really motivated me to push harder, both mentally and physically.”

These days, Howie spends most of his time teaching. Mornings and evenings are packed with swim lessons, but in between, he trains with purpose and precision. “I swim about three times a week,” he says. “Distances vary between 3,000 to 5,000 metres, mixing speed, endurance, and technique work. I always think about my technique like, ‘Am I moving my arms correctly?’ or ‘Am I kicking enough?’ It helps distract me from hunger and sore arms.”

His mindful approach paid off in the 8km Langkawi Swim Fest 2025, where he clocked 2:25:25 and finished 4th overall, a milestone achievement. “I started this race differently from my past ones; I swam much faster in the beginning,” Howie recalls. “Around the 4km mark, the sky turned cloudy, the winds picked up, and the waves got bigger than usual. The current was also stronger compared to previous years.”

The race threw a jellyfish encounter his way too. “Almost 2km in, I felt something soft and slippery on my hand and I knew immediately it was a jellyfish. It slid down my arm, past my face, then onto my feet. I started wiggling to avoid it sticking to my body and braced for the sting. Luckily, the pain was bearable, and I got back into my zone quickly.”

Despite the challenges, Howie had set a personal target to finish under 2 hours and 30 minutes. “When I finished the first 4km loop, I sneaked a glance at my watch and knew I’d already hit my target, which pushed me to swim harder to the finish. It gave me a real sense of satisfaction.”

Beyond competing, Howie sees his races as chances to explore. “I join competitions as an excuse to travel and explore different states and countries,” he says.

Looking ahead, his sights are set on an even bigger challenge: the 16km Perhentian Island Challenge. “This will be my third attempt. Last year, I managed second place overall in 4 hours and 15 minutes, and this year, I hope to lower my personal best.”

For Howie Loh, swimming isn’t just a sport. It’s a language passed down from his father, spoken daily with his students, and etched into every current he glides through. Langkawi Swim Fest 2025 was not a breakthrough moment but a milestone on a journey that started long ago, and shows no sign of ending anytime soon.