Mark Chay

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| full_name = Mark Chay Jung Jun

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| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1982|2|18|df=y}}

| birth_place = Singapore

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Mark Chay Jung Jun (simplified Chinese: 蔡荣俊; born 18 February 1982){{Cite web |title=Mark Chay – Singapore National Olympic Council |url=https://www.singaporeolympics.com/olympians/mark-chay/ |access-date=2024-08-15 |language=en-US}} is a Singaporean Nominated Member of Parliament and freestyle swimmer who has represented the country at the Summer Olympics.

Early life and education

Chay was born and raised in Singapore, where he developed a passion for swimming at a young age. He attended Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) and Anglo-Chinese Junior College. Chay's notable abilities in the pool earned him a scholarship to Brigham Young University (BYU) in Provo, Utah.

At BYU, he continued to maintain his performance in swimming while studying communications. While at the university, he won the Mountain West Conference championship. Chay graduated with a degree in communications.

Career

Chay is currently the chief development officer of Global Esports Federation, a non-governmental organisation headquartered in Singapore that promotes esports.{{Cite web |last=Tham |first=Ashley |title=Singapore Aquatics president Mark Chay diagnosed with leukaemia |url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/mark-chay-leukaemia-singapore-aquatics-saq-swimming-4486226 |access-date=2024-08-15 |website=CNA |language=en}}

= Swimming career=

Chay's international debut came at the 1997 Southeast Asian Games.{{Cite news |date=29 July 1997 |title=Sasa nominates 19 for Jakarta SEA Games |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19970729-1.2.57.1 |access-date=15 August 2024 |work=The Straits Times |pages=38 |via=NewspaperSG}} Over the next eight years, he competed in seven SEA Games. In addition to his SEA Games success, Chay represented Singapore in two Olympic Games: Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004, the Asian Games in Bangkok 1998 and Busan 2002, and the Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur 1998 and Manchester 2002.{{Cite news |date=11 August 1999 |title=Breaking a 13-year record... |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/newpaper19990811-1.2.50.8 |access-date=15 August 2024 |work=The New Paper |pages=42 |via=NewspaperSG}}

Chay's performance in the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, positioned him as the top Asian swimmer in the 200m freestyle event during that year.{{Cite news |date=10 September 1997 |title=Men |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19970910-1.2.59.6.1 |access-date=15 August 2024 |work=The Straits Times |pages=45 |via=NewspaperSG}} In 2005, Chay concluded his swimming career at the 2005 SEA Games, where he retired from international competition.

Chay retired from swimming in July 2007.{{Cite news |last=Chia |first=Alvin |date=1 June 2017 |title=SEA Games: Mark Chay and Lee Wung Yew appointed Singapore's deputy chefs de mission |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/sea-games-mark-chay-and-lee-wung-yew-appointed-deputy-chef-de-mission |access-date=2024-08-15 |work=The Straits Times |language=en |issn=0585-3923}}

= Political career=

On 14 January 2021, Chay was chosen as one of the 9 nominated members of parliament (NMP) for the 14th Parliament of Singapore, which began on 21 January 2021.{{cite web |last1=Abdullah |first1=Zhaki |date=14 January 2021 |title=Nine new Nominated Members of Parliament to be appointed |url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/new-nmp-nominated-members-of-parliament-13959126 |access-date=19 January 2021 |website=CNA}} After his appointment was announced, Chay said that he intends to promote sports as an agent of social change and a way to unify a nation, prompted by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Singapore's sports scene. In addition, Chay plans to speak on economic issues.{{cite web |last1=Singh |first1=Dilenjit |date=19 January 2021 |title=Ex-Olympic swimmer Mark Chay wears many hats, his latest as NMP |url=https://tnp.straitstimes.com/sports/others/former-olympic-swimmer-mark-chay-wears-many-hats-his-latest-nmp |access-date=19 January 2021 |website=The New Paper}}{{cite web |last1=Abdul Aziz |first1=Sazali |date=19 January 2021 |title=#GameOfTwoHalves Podcast: NMP Mark Chay on plans to help local sport survive beyond Covid-19 |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/gameoftwohalves-podcast-nmp-mark-chay-on-plans-to-help-local-sport-survive-beyond-covid-19 |access-date=19 January 2021 |website=The Straits Times}}

Personal life

Chay is married to Joanna Seetoh and they have a daughter.{{Cite web |last=Ong |first=Guang-Xi Justin |date=21 July 2024 |title=He's battling a 'once in a lifetime' illness but Mark Chay's mission to drive sport in Singapore goes on |url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/mark-chay-leukaemia-aquatics-swimming-4491161 |access-date=2024-08-15 |website=CNA |language=en}}

In March 2024, Chay was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukaemia.