'FUEL TO GO EVEN FURTHER'

Warm welcome cheers Soon, fellow Paralympians, as bus parade is next

- Deepanraj Ganesan

When swimmer Sophie Soon returned to Singapore from the Tokyo Paralympics in 2021, she was swiftly hustled into a van to start her mandatory two-week quarantine, which was in line with Covid-19 measures at the time.

On Sept 10, there was no sanitised hotel room waiting.

Instead, she and nine other Team Singapore athletes were able to bask in a warm welcome at Changi Airport.

Popular National Day song Home accompanied them as they walked into the arrival hall, cheered on by close to 100 family, friends and fans who showered them with hugs, flower bouquets, garlands and soft toys.

Soon, who is visually impaired, finished seventh in the 100m breaststroke SB12 final in Paris.

The 27-year-old said: "It's really quite a stark contrast to what my last experience was. It's... a heartwarming experience to see this amount of support.

"It encourages you 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."

Soon was part of the 10-strong contingent who returned from the Paris Paralympics on Sept 10. They clinched three medals - two golds and a silver in Singapore's best showing at a Paralympics.