Like most mothers, Madam Li Yan does not always see eye to eye with her daughter about hairstyle and sartorial choices.

But when the said daughter is national swimmer Tao Li, 20, arguments about hair dye may take an unexpected direction.

When Madam Li disapproved of Tao streaking some of her locks gold, the swimmer simply argued that 'it is the colour of the medal I am aiming for in the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London'.

And Tao is on track to meeting her goal. She broke her own national record for the 50m butterfly event, clocking 26.64 seconds in last Sunday's National Swimming Championships - 0.09 seconds faster than the 26.73 seconds she clocked at the Asian Games in Doha in 2006.

Minor tussles aside, Madam Li, 47, says of her only child: 'She is a very focused and disciplined person. For many years, her daily routine has been to study, train and go home. She stuck by it. So I have always let her set her own goals.'

Tao's independent and competitive streak has brought her much success in the last few years, including a gold medal in the 50m butterfly race at the Doha Games.

She also finished fifth in the finals of the 100m butterfly event in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

The Singapore Sports School student is slated to take part in the 50m and 100m butterfly events in November's Asian Games in Guangzhou, China. There, she is aiming to take home at least a bronze.

The Wuhan, Hubei, native became a Singapore citizen in 2005, the same year she made her competitive debut for the national swimming team at the South-east Asian Games in the Philippines.

Madam Li came here to work as a swimming coach with a local club in 2001. Tao moved here to be with her mother two years later when she was 13.

Her father, Mr Tao Ran, 48, manages a provincial swimming team in China. They keep in touch through regular webchats and phone calls. Mr Tao visits his wife and daughter in Singapore every year.

Madam Li now coaches at the Swimfast Aquatic Club. She says of her daughter's stellar swimming development: 'Singapore gave her a platform to perform and we are grateful for it. Hopefully she can bring further glory to the country.'

What was your childhood like?

Tao: It was the same as any other kid's. I was always playing games such as basketball or football.

Li: She was like a boy and hardly played with dolls. She would always be the only girl playing in a big group of boys.

Has swimming always been a big part of your lives?

Li: When Tao Li was one or two years old, I would take her along when I taught swimming. She would play in the water.

Tao: When I was that age, swimming was just for fun. I used to play in the pool for about 20 minutes each time. Sometimes, when I did not felt like swimming, I would not go.

When did you discover Tao Li's potential for competitive swimming?

Li: When she was around 12 years old. By then, she was already among the best young swimmers in China. I remember signing her up for a provincial swimming competition when she was just five years old. But she did not do well because the other competitors were one or two years older.

She was also disciplined. Almost every day after school, she would take a small bucket with her towel and goggles in it to go swimming.

Why did you decide to bring Tao Li to Singapore instead of letting her develop her swimming career in China?

Li: Firstly, I felt that her being shorter than other swimmers around her age in China was a disadvantage when it came to being selected for the national team. Secondly, I wanted her to have a good education to fall back on after her swimming career ends. And I chose Singapore because I wanted her to learn English.

Tao: I hated living here initially. I couldn't understand a word of English. I was placed in Primary 5 even though I was already 13, and felt my classmates were all very childish. The hot weather was also a problem.

Ever thought of giving up since it was so tough?

Li: Initially, she said she wanted to go back to China almost every day. But I told her that she should spend at least six months here before deciding. Her father and I had an understanding: If she did not fit in even after a year, we would go back.

Tao: My mother hired an English tutor for me and I had lessons at home twice a week. After a few months, I began to make some friends in school, so it became better. I also got used to the weather here. In the end, I scored a C for English in my PSLE.

What kind of role did mum play in shaping your career?

Tao: An extremely important one. When I first came to Singapore, I would wake up at 5.30am every morning to cycle to the swimming pool near Holland Village to train. My mother would walk to the pool so she could ride my bicycle back when I left for school.

She also prepared my meals before leaving for work. Even though her cooking was horrible - she once charred stir-fried beef badly - I still finished everything she cooked.

Li: Things became easier for us when she started going to the Singapore Sports School in 2006. I do not have to wake up early as she now stays in boarding school. When she comes home during weekends, I make her soups. Now that we are more comfortable financially, we would go out for meals or shopping.

Tao: Her cooking still has not improved after all these years.

Given that your mother also helps to manage your money, do you see her as your manager?

Tao: The sports industry in Singapore is too small for any athlete to need a manager. But whenever I need to sign a contract, the other parties will still explain all the clauses to my mother.

Li: Part of the money she received as reward for the medals she won is saved in a bank. The rest was used to buy a three-room HDB flat in Toa Payoh in 2007 for us to live in.

If the parent-child roles were reversed, would you do anything differently?

Tao: I would be much stricter than she was. I would expect my child to listen to everything I say. (Laughs.)

Li: I would be the type who listens to everything my mother says.

This article was first published in The Straits Times.