Warm welcome for Singapore's returning Paralympians after landmark showing at Games

SINGAPORE: The last time Sophie Soon returned from the Paralympics, she was ushered into a van and whisked away to serve her mandatory quarantine.

Three years on from the Tokyo Games which were held amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the mood at Changi Airport could not have been more different for Soon and Singapore's Paralympians.

At Changi Airport on Tuesday (Sep 10), there was applause, cheers and even a rendition of popular National Day tune "Home" as local athletes and officials returned after a landmark showing at the Paris Paralympics.

The contingent touched down at about 6am, and were welcomed with loud cheers and applause when they emerged into the arrival hall at Terminal 3 about 45 minutes later.

"It is really very heartwarming," said 27-year-old Soon, who finished 7th in the 100m breaststroke SB12 final in Paris.

"It ... encourages you in the moment to want to do your best ... Even more so, it fuels you to want to go even further and try to reach better heights, because you know that you have a team rallying and supporting you."

Speaking to reporters, double gold medallist Yip Pin Xiu shared similar sentiments.

"It's really, really nice to be welcomed back home by such a nice crowd," added the swimmer.

Cheered on by about 100 family members and supporters including Team Nila volunteers, the contingent were first greeted by Minister for Community, Culture and Youth Edwin Tong.

Yip's brother Alvin, his wife and their two sons were among the crowd gathered to receive the athletes.

“The way she has paved the movement for disability sport, that’s something (which is) very commendable,” he said.

“This is her fifth Paralympics outing and still maintaining (her standards) and still doing well. It talks a lot about resilience that we as family members also see.”

"I've missed them so much," added Yip, who has been travelling "quite a lot" for training camps and competitions this year.

"To know that I'm home now for a while, I can take a break, I can eat whatever I want, do whatever I want, visit whoever I want at any point of time feels nice."

Also present at the airport were Jeralyn Tan’s parents, grandmother and extended family.

“She did very well. I watched each and every one of her matches … I was cheering for her,” said Mdm Lim Tuah Moi, Tan’s grandmother.

“I never thought she’d get a medal - there are a lot of strong competitors. I’m happy she won.”

“She has put in a lot of hard work … it’s a big achievement,” said Tan’s father Rayven.

“We’re all very proud of her.”

Tan is the first Singaporean to claim a boccia medal at the Games. The 32-year-old was making her Games debut.

She became only Singapore's fourth Paralympic medallist, joining swimmers Yip, Theresa Goh and equestrian Laurentia Tan in the history books.

INGRAINING SPORT INTO CULTURE

The headline act for Singapore was Yip, who notched a double three-peat at the Paris Games. The Singaporean won the 50m backstroke S2 and the 100m backstroke S2 for the third consecutive time since 2016.

While she has accomplished much in the pool, Yip also has been a vocal advocate for more integration and inclusion in Singapore sports.

"More can be done in sports in Singapore in general, be it able-bodied sports or para-sports. And it comes from every level, not just the top or the bottom," she said.

"We hope that sports will be more ingrained in our culture, so that people not only realise that at the end of the day, education is important, but sports is also a very important part in life."

Team Singapore's contingent of 10 athletes concluded their Games campaign with three medals - two gold and one silver. This meant that they bettered the two golds and one bronze at the 2016 Games.

The most medals Singapore have won at the Paralympics was at the 2008 edition when they took home one gold, one silver and two bronzes.

"To have it (medals) in boccia and in swimming this time around, I think it also goes to show that ... there really isn't any limits that you should put on yourself. You should just try your very best because you don't know where you will end up one day," said Yip.

"The values behind it are not just about sport. We don't want everybody watching the Games to be an athlete, but at the end of the day, you do what you want to do and set high goals for yourself and don't set any limits."