Southeast
Asian
Games

SPRINTING has long been Singapore’s strongest discipline in athletics. Over the past decade of SEA Games competitions (2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2023), Singaporean sprinters have delivered 14 of the nation’s 41 medals (4 gold, 3 silver, 7 bronze). On the men’s side, the 100m, 200m, and 400m national records have all been rewritten in the past ten years, a testament to the rapid evolution of the country’s sprinting prowess. Meanwhile, Veronica Shanti Pereira has obliterated the women’s 100m, 200m, and 400m records in just the past two years, firmly establishing herself as Singapore’s and Asia’s sprint queen. Singapore has produced world-class sprinters before—but this generation might be just as special.

Hurdling has long been a bright spot for Singapore at the SEA Games, a discipline where speed meets precision, and champions are forged in milliseconds. Across the last five SEA Games, Singaporean hurdlers have consistently delivered, bringing home one gold, two silvers, and four bronzes—a testament to the nation’s strength in this demanding event. On the men’s side, Ang Chen Xiang and Calvin Quek have redefined what it means to be a Singaporean hurdler. Both are national record holders, both are multiple-time SEA Games medalists, and both are still in their prime. After back-to-back podium finishes in 2022 and 2023, they are primed for yet another strong campaign in Bangkok. For the women, the 100m hurdles is seeing a resurgence. With Kerstin Ong’s rapid improvements, Singapore finally has a contender to challenge the best in Southeast Asia once again. The 400m hurdles, however, remains a work in progress—but with the right development, a new generation could soon emerge.

In the 21st century, men’s middle-distance running in Singapore has often struggled for depth. Until 2025, only one Singaporean man had broken four minutes in the 1500m in the past decade—national record holder Yuan Chow Lui (3:51.10). Meanwhile, the 3000m steeplechase has remained largely untouched, with no Singaporean dipping under 9:30 in over two decades, except for Nabin Parajuli’s 9:27.70 in 2019. For years, Singapore has lacked the firepower to challenge the region in these events—but that tide may finally be turning. On the women’s side, the story is different. Goh Chui Ling has been the heartbeat of Singapore’s middle-distance scene, winning all four of the nation’s SEA Games medals (4 bronze) in the past decade. But a new generation is stepping up—Romaine Soh and 3000m steeplechase national record-holder Vanessa Lee are rising through the ranks, eager to carve their own paths to success.

Singapore’s long-distance running is undergoing a big and undeniable resurgence. On the men’s side, Soh Rui Yong remains the nation’s standard-bearer, holding the national records in all three SEA Games distance events—5000m, 10,000m, and the marathon. Yet, in the past two years, a new wave of talent has emerged, particularly in the 5000m and 10,000m, hinting at a shift in the landscape. ​ For the women, the 5000m has been the event to watch. In 2024, Goh Chui Ling and Vanessa Lee traded the national record, pushing the event to new heights. With the momentum building, this could be the strongest women’s distance field Singapore has seen in years. ​ Over the past decade, Singapore’s SEA Games long-distance medals have been won by just two athletes—Rui Yong (2 gold, 1 silver) and Chui Ling (1 bronze). But in 2025, with new contenders on the rise, that could be about to change.

For nearly a decade, Singapore’s jumpers have been chasing a return to the SEA Games podium. Michelle Sng has been the nation’s standout, soaring to four SEA Games medals (1 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronzes) in the high jump, while Rachel Yang made history in the pole vault, capturing a silver and a bronze as she pushed new heights for Singaporean women’s vaulting. On the men’s side, however, a medal has remained elusive. Since Edwin Chong’s pole vault bronze in 2011, no Singaporean man has reached the SEA Games podium in any jumping event. Representation has been inconsistent—a lone high jumper in 2017 and 2019, and two pole vaulters in 2023. And in the horizontal jumps—long jump and triple jump—Singapore’s absence has been even more stark. The nation has not sent a single representative in these events since 2015, leaving a decade-long void in the sand pits of Southeast Asia’s biggest stage. Now, change is on the horizon. National records are falling, young jumpers are hitting new milestones, and Singapore’s jumps program is growing stronger than ever. If this momentum continues, the 2025 SEA Games could mark Singapore’s long-awaited return across all four jumping disciplines.

For decades, Singapore was a powerhouse in the throws. Led by the legendary James Wong—who racked up 10 SEA Games golds between 1987 and 2011—the men’s discus and hammer were dominated by the red and white. On the women’s side, naturalised athletes like Du Xianhui and Zhang Guirong, alongside homegrown names like Hannah Lee and Wan Lay Chi, made the podium a familiar place to the tune of 9 golds, 7 silvers and 6 bronzes between 2003 and 2015. But since 2015, no Singaporean thrower has medalled at the SEA Games. The once-proud tradition has faded—but perhaps not for long. A small but determined group of throwers is beginning to rise. The road back to regional contention will be long, but the rebuilding has begun.