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Top athletes honoured by the Singapore Swimming Association

SINGAPORE — The Republic's top aquatics athletes from swimming, diving, synchronised swimming, and waterpolo were honoured for their achievements at the 2016 Singapore Swimming Association (SSA) Awards and Appreciation Night at the Shangri-La Hotel on Saturday (April 23).

Ms Grace Fu, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, with the SSA Ex-ecutive Committee, SSA Awards Selection Committee, sponsors, and award winners. Photo: Singapore Swimming Association

Ms Grace Fu, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, with the SSA Ex-ecutive Committee, SSA Awards Selection Committee, sponsors, and award winners. Photo: Singapore Swimming Association

SINGAPORE — The Republic's top aquatics athletes from swimming, diving, synchronised swimming, and waterpolo were honoured for their achievements at the 2016 Singapore Swimming Association (SSA) Awards and Appreciation Night at the Shangri-La Hotel on Saturday (April 23).

The top honours went to national swimmers Joseph Schooling and Tao Li, who were named Male and Female Athlete of the Year 2015 (Swimming) respectively, while the waterpolo awards were given to Lee Kai Yang (Male Athlete of the Year) and Eunice Fu (Female Athlete of the Year).

SEA Games bronze medallist Freida Lim was awarded Athlete of the Year for diving, while Crystal Yap and Stephanie Chen won honours for synchronised swimming.

Swimfast Aquatic Club coach Leonard Tan was awarded Club Coach of the Year.

Guest-of-honour Grace Fu, who is Minister for Culture, Community and Youth congratulated the winners in her speech on Saturday, as she said: "Beyond medals won, you have inspired many Singaporeans with your courage and resilience. You have truly become our sporting heroes.

"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 on in Rio. Keep flying the Singapore flag high, and inspire our next generation of sporting talents."

SSA president Lee Kok Choy said the association's goal is for all four disciplines (waterpolo, diving, swimming, and synchronised swimming) to be the top four in Asia. "Even as we celebrate past successes, we look ahead to the future with great anticipation and excitement," he said.

"We've put in place five year plans for each discipline and high performance development pathways. For all our aquatic disciplines, we aim to be top 4 in Asia as well as make a strong push towards the 2020 Olympic Games."

The sport's pioneers were also honoured tonight, with Chan Chee Seng, the late Woon Sui Kut, and Mrs Woon Sui Kut, receiving the Outstanding Contribution Award for their contributions to aquatic sports in Singapore.

THE WINNERS:

Main awards:
Male Athlete of the Year 2015 (Swimming) - Joseph Schooling
Female Athlete of the Year (Swimming) - Tao Li
Male Athlete of the Year (Waterpolo) - Lee Kai Yang
Female Athlete of the Year (Waterpolo) - Eunice Fu
Athlete of the Year (Diving) - Freida Lim
Athlete of the Year (Synchronised Swimming) - Crystal Yap, Stephanie Chen
Club Coach of the Year - Leonard Tan

Social Media Awards:
Breakout Performance of the Year - Zachary Ian Tan
Inspiration of the Year - Pang Sheng Jun
Aquatic Moment of the Year - Mark and Timothy Lee, 28th SEA Games, Synchronised 3m Finals (Diving)
Story of the Year - "ASEAN Para Games: Yeo shrugs off pain to compete" by Chua Siang Yee, The Straits Times, 8 Dec 2015
Photo of the Year - Adrian Seetho

Outstanding Contribution Award:
Mr Chan Chee Seng
Mr Woon Sui Kut
Mrs Woon Sui Kut

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