Honouring aquatic athletes for their 2015 achievements

Mr Lee Kok Choy, President of Singapore Swimming Association,

Committee Members,

Athletes, Coaches, Officials, Parents,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

A very good evening. It is my pleasure to be here, and celebrate Singapore’s aquatic sports achievements over the past year with all of you.

Achievements in 2015

1. What a year it has been. The 28^th SEA Games last June was a Games to remember. On home soil, or should I say waters, our Swimming, Synchronised Swimming, Diving and Water Polo athletes achieved our best-ever SEA Games haul with 26 Gold, 17 Silver and 11 Bronze medals. Well done and congratulations!

2. We continued to dominate the pools, as Singapore topped the medal tally for Swimming at the SEA Games with Quah Zheng Wen leading the charge with 12 medals. Our Water Polo men also clinched a historic 26^th consecutive gold medal for Singapore.

3. We are seeing great progress too in the other aquatic domains. Our synchronised swimmers won our first-ever Gold at the SEA Games, and our divers did us proud to bag 3 Silver and 4 Bronze medals against strong opponents. 

4. Beyond medals won, you have inspired many Singaporeans with your courage and resilience. You have truly become our sporting heroes. It was heartening to witness the sea of red, and hear the crowd sing the National Anthem, acapella style when the public announcement system broke down, singing with pride numerous times at the OCBC Aquatic Centre.

5. Your performances at the SEA Games were a fitting SG50 gift to the nation. On the eve of National Day, Joseph Schooling delivered the icing on the cake – achieving our first-ever podium finish at the FINA World Championships, and setting a new Asian record in the process.

6. I would also like to congratulate once again, all the athletes and the Association for doing an excellent job in hosting a trilogy of FINA competitions – the Swimming World Cup, the Diving Grand Prix, and for the first time in Asia – the World Junior Championships. 

7. Just a note to the athletes. I think we rejoice in your achievements. We share the happiness that you feel about giving the country so much pride. Just a reminder that while you are standing tall today, you are really standing tall on the shoulder of giants before you. And there are so many and they are here with us, showing us the way, blazing the trail for us. So that our path is a little treacherous. So I think we should also acknowledge all the sporting heroes of the yesteryears, who are here with us. We really appreciate what you have done for the sport, what you have done for the country, giving us tremendous pride in the last 50 years. 
   

Recognising the Contributions of the Aquatic Sports Eco-System

8. It is often said, “It takes a village to raise a child.” I’m sure you’ll agree that it takes even more people to raise a swimmer. All these achievements I mentioned would not be possible without the contributions of many passionate individuals and organisations. Parents and coaches, thank you for your unwavering support and personal sacrifices to help our athletes realise their potential. MCCY and Sport Singapore will continue to work with SSA to support our athletes under the High Performance Sports system.  I believe the whole village looks forward to seeing our aquatic athletes doing even better in the days ahead.

9. Our technical officials should be recognised for their professionalism and commitment behind the scenes; they are key to ensuring that high-profile events like the SEA Games and the FINA World Cup run smoothly.  Our volunteers also deserve credit for making sure that athletes and spectators all around the world enjoy their experiences here.

10. Just like to also thank everyone who has been working with the athletes, for the athletes, supporting the athletes in many ways – the physiotherapists, the counsellors, the nutritionists – everyone who has played a part in the performance of our athletes.

11. Sponsors – thank you not only for supporting tonight’s Awards and other sporting events, but also for your role in sustaining the growth of the SSA.

12. I would also like to acknowledge Kok Choy and his leadership team in the SSA. With your commitment and dedication, the future of aquatic sports in Singapore looks bright.
    

Outstanding Contribution Awards

13. Tonight, we also recognise the contributions of our sporting legends with a new award – the Outstanding Contribution Award. This award is presented by the Legacy Council to recognise individuals who have made significant and lifetime contributions towards the advancement of Aquatic Sports in Singapore. This year, we honour the late Mr Woon Sui Kut, Mrs Doris Woon and Mr Chan Chee Seng. Thank you for giving back to the community, and helping to steer aquatic sports to new heights in Singapore.
    

To Rio and Beyond

14. As we celebrate our achievements in 2015, I know our athletes are already training very hard for the upcoming Rio Olympics. Whether you have already qualified or still fighting to qualify, I wish you all the very best, and I will be cheering you in Rio.

15. Keep flying the Singapore flag high, and inspire our next generation of sporting talents. I look forward to many more Olympics and World Championships ahead of us.

16. I wish you great success in your sporting careers and in your other endeavours.

17. Thank you and have a great evening.