Humans of HTX: The gymnast who stuck a landing in science

It’s 5 am. Most of the city is still asleep. But Dr Alexiaa Sim is already at a fire station, armed with a clipboard and a goal – to observe every move made by the firefighters on duty.

That’s another day out in the field as a scientist with HTX’s Human Factors and Simulation Centre of Expertise (HFS CoE).

Since joining in 2024, Alexiaa has been studying the science behind body movements and human physiology, all to help the Home Team’s frontliners become stronger and safer in their work.

While early call times for field work may sound demanding, running around with firefighters is actually her favourite part of the job.

“A lot of my past work studying for a PhD in sports nutrition and exercise physiology, as well as conducting research with the National Technological University (NTU), was performed in controlled indoor settings, not quite with actual users on the ground,” she explained.

“The work here is so dynamic – there’s something different to look forward to every day.”

But what is it about sports science and human performance that appeal to Alexiaa?

Well, the two fields are all about precision, control, and understanding the limits of the human body in order to push it even further – concepts she is intrigued by and all too familiar with, having been a gymnast since she was just eight.

The art of perseverance

At the peak of her competitive gymnastics career back in her teens, Alexiaa clocked 10 to 12 hours of training every week.

“I was a high-energy kid that was always on the move, whether it was running, swimming, dancing, or getting into trouble playing hide-and-seek with my brother,” she recalled.

So, when she was talent-spotted by a gymnastics coach and offered a spot in the school team when she was in Primary Two, it was an opportunity she couldn’t refuse.

“What I ended up loving about gymnastics is the discipline and resilience it has instilled in me over the years, along with the drive to always do better,” she mused.

She likens the sport to a pursuit of perfection – baseline execution of a big move can be easy enough, yet perfecting it is something else entirely.

The hardest move she ever trained for? A crash dive.

“It’s technically not a difficult manoeuvre, but the higher you jump, the scarier it gets, because you basically hang face-down high in the air for a moment,” she surmised.

“And if you panic or don’t roll back in at just the right time, you might fall.”

But pushing herself to execute “scary” moves did not amplify her fears. In fact, it was quite the opposite – it only fortified her resolve and taught her to embrace challenges and failure in life.

Like the time the Covid-19 pandemic completely derailed a PhD research study she had spent months planning for.

“My entire plan had to be pivoted because regulations disallowed me from meeting research participants in person, which meant I couldn’t get any data at all. I was completely stuck,” she lamented.

“It was heartbreaking to see months of effort wasted, but I pushed through and learnt a lot about adapting to things outside of my control.”

The toughest challenge she’s ever encountered in life? Motherhood.

“From sitting for PhD exams while seven months pregnant, to experiencing bodily changes and caring for a newborn for the first time, I was in survival mode. Other challenges in life seem so manageable in comparison,” she recounted.

Yet, despite the struggles, she’s about to do it all over again with a second child on the way.

This time, however, she’s determined to balance her commitments a little better. How?

“Like training to perfect a crash dive, discipline is key. It’s all about creating routines that can help prepare you for the day ahead,” she quipped.

“It could be something as simple as making sure everyone in the family has their bags packed each night for the next day – you just need to be extra diligent about it.”

Empowering others to soar

These days, Alexiaa is flipping the script. She’s channeling the lessons gained from her favourite sport into helping the Home Team.

“I try to understand the difficulties that frontline officers face in their operations, and find ways to develop the most effective solutions that strengthen their physiological performance and reduce injuries,” she elaborated.

One key project she has been working on is refining the Responders Functional Fitness Training (RFFT) programme, a collaboration between HTX and the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), which aims to improve the functional and operational fitness of firefighters with exercises that match the demands of their role.

Since its launch in 2023, the initiative has resulted in an average 21% improvement in lower limb strength of participants who have since completed the 12-week programme.

Outside of work, Alexiaa no longer does gymnastics. But she hasn’t quite left the sport.

Today, she spends weekends teaching six-year-olds how to perfect their handstands and cartwheels. Being in this coaching role, she added, isn’t less satisfying than performing the stunts herself, though gratification now comes from a very different source – coming up with solutions based on each of her students’ needs, just like how she helps design tailored training programmes for Home Team officers.

But while both roles require her to provide scientific-based advice, she notes that not everything has to be rooted in hard facts and statistics. Encouragement, she added, is something that can go a long way to improving one’s performance, too.

“A simple word of encouragement or compliment could go a long way in making someone's day, whether they're a colleague, student, family member, or a friend. In fact, it could even help someone perform better at his or her task. I strive to always be a source of such positivity!” she quipped.