Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, November 25, 2024: It’s been quite a year for swimming technical official Temuulen Davaasambuu.
The 22-year-old Mongolian broke new ground for his country when working as a technical official at the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup in Shanghai, China last month – the first TO from Mongolia to officiate at an international swimming event.
His learning curve is continuing here in Kuala Lumpur, as Mongolia’s representative in the OCA Development Programme for Coaches and Referees, as a swimming technical official.
He admits that the experience of Shanghai 2024 was a real eye-opener as he rubbed shoulders with other technical officials at an international competition for the first time.
“I learned a lot from it,” he said, during a break in the programme on Monday.
“I was lucky enough to get as a reserve and also be the time keeper and also at the turn inspector, so from that I was able to see how international competitions work, how they go, how they even just walk out, walking out in a lane, or how they DQ (disqualify) an athlete, was just an eye-opening experience.
“You learn how they communicate with each other and how that actually makes sense. Every country does it in their own way but seeing it, how it’s done in the international levels, teaches you a lot.”
“Tem” studied in California from 2018 until last year and is now back in Mongolia and back in the sport he says he loves.
As for the OCA development programme, he is looking forward to stepping up from Level 1, which he has already achieved, to Level 2 – and making some good contacts along the way.
“From here we are looking forward to mainly focusing on the video judging because that is something we want to get into our country, to get more cameras, to catch up with the technology” he adds.
“And also, just to make more connection, networking, with the different countries, especially the Asian community, so we can change officials and also learn from each other; also, just to keep up to date.”