Triumphant Paralympians return home from Rio

SINGAPORE – Team Singapore’s Paralympians returned home early Wednesday morning (Sept 21) to a modest welcome ceremony made up of around 120 fans.

Gathered at Changi Airport Terminal 3’s Arrival Hall as Singapore Airlines flight SQ67 touched down at 5.35am, the supporters - including Minister for Social and Family Development Tan Chuan-Jin and Sport Singapore CEO Lim Teck Yin - broke into cheers the moment double Paralympic gold medalist Yip Pin Xiu and her teammates arrived at Belt 42.

All eyes were on swimmer Yip and the two gold medals around her neck, with fellow swimmer Theresa Goh also basking in the glory of her bronze medal-winning feat in Rio.

"We're overwhelmed by the warm welcome," said Yip, who broke the world record in the 100m backstroke S2 event. "Thank you very much to everybody who are here at 5am in the morning to welcome us back, as well as those who have supported us during the Games.

"We will continue to strive harder for better results. Thank you very much for the support."

Goh added: "Thank you very much for being here for us. We are so glad to be home. I'm looking forward to Saturday's victory parade although I'm nervous! I'm hoping to meet our supporters out there."

Other Team Singapore Paralympians – including equestrienne Laurentia Tan, sailor Jovin Tan, and debutant thrower Muhammad Diroy Noordin – were equally thrilled to be accorded such a warm welcome upon their return home.

"I'm absolutely overwhelmed by the support here today," said equestrienne Gemma Foo. "It's the first time I've felt the most welcomed as a para-athlete. I didn't expect such a big turnout so early in the morning."

The athletes earned the honour after the Republic’s best Paralympic Games showing, which gleaned a haul of two golds and a bronze from Rio de Janeiro.

This year, Singapore was represented by a record contingent of 13 athletes in six sports at the Paralympic Games.

Swimmer Yip made history in Rio by becoming the only Singaporean to win multiple golds at the Paralympics. The 24-year-old clinched gold in the 50m and 100m backstroke S2 events.

Team-mate Goh, 29, won the bronze medal in the 100m breaststroke SB4, her first medal in her fourth outing at the Games.

Wheelchair racer Norsilawati Sa'at said the pair's triumphs in Rio have sparked that "One Team Singapore" spirit relished by the Paralympians.

"I'm glad my seniors Pin Xiu and Theresa have done so well," she said. "I think this Paralympics have generated increased support and awareness for para-athletes in Singapore. I feel the One Team Singapore spirit."

A busy day awaits Yip and Goh, who will meet the media at the Singapore Sports Institute’s seminar room this afternoon.

On Saturday, the 13 Paralympians will embark on a celebratory parade around town on a fleet of super cars.

The parade will begin at 9am from the Sengkang Sports Centre, and end at about 2.30pm at the VivoCity mall.

The convoy of exotic sports cars — each carrying a Team Singapore para-athlete — will make a pit stop at the National Library at Victoria Street.

"I'm looking forward to Saturday's victory parade although I'm nervous!" said Goh. "I'm hoping to meet all our supporters out there."

For Yip, after spending a big part of the year training abroad for the Paralympics, all she wants now is to go home and have a meal with her family.

She said: "I've been away from home for quite some time. My family has arranged breakfast for me and I'm looking forward to eating some hawker fare - like kway chap."