Junie Sng

Junie Sng Poh Leng, BBM (Chinese: 孙宝玲; pinyin: Sūn Bǎolíng; born 6 June 1964) is a Singaporean former swimmer. She was a three-time double winner of the SNOC Sportswoman of the Year and the Sportsgirl of the Year awards in 1978, 1979 and 1980.[3][4] Sng was awarded the Public Service Star for her contributions to sports in 1982.[5][6] She was ranked seventh in a list of Singapore's 50 Greatest Athletes of the Century by The Straits Times in 1999.[7]

In this Chinese name, the family name is Sng.
Junie Sng
Personal information
Full nameJunie Sng Poh Leng
NationalitySingapore
Born (1964-06-06) 6 June 1964[1]
Singapore
Height1.56 m (5 ft 1+1⁄2 in)[2]
Sport
SportSwimming
StrokesFreestyle
ClubPeople's Association Youth Swimming Club
Medal record
Women's swimming
Representing  Singapore
Asian Games
Gold medal – first place1978 Bangkok400 m freestyle
Gold medal – first place1978 Bangkok800 m freestyle
Silver medal – second place1978 Bangkok200 m freestyle

At the age of 11, Sng first represented Singapore at the 1975 Southeast Asian Peninsular Games, where she won a gold and silver medal. In March 1977, she set a national record with a time of 4:39.9 in the 400-meter freestyle.[8] At the 1977 Southeast Asian Games in November, Sng won five gold medals and a silver as she broke six meet and two Asian Games records.[9]

Sng became the first female swimmer to win gold for Singapore and the youngest gold medalist in a women's event in Asian Games history when she set a new Games record time of 4:31.35 in the 400-meter freestyle on 14 December 1978.[10][11] A day later, she broke the Games record with a time of 9:18.33 in the 800-meter freestyle to clinch another gold medal.[12] Sng finished the 1978 Games with two gold and one silver medal.[13]

At the 1979 Southeast Asian Games, Sng broke three games and three national records on her way to claiming five golds, two silvers and a bronze.[14][15] Sng won seven gold medals at the 1981 Games.[16]

The 1983 Southeast Asian Games held in Singapore was Sng's final competition before she retired at her peak.[17] She broke the nine-minute barrier, clocking an Asian record time of 8:59.46 in the 800-meter freestyle as she won a total of ten gold medals.[18][19]

Sng and her family emigrated in Melbourne, Australia after she retired from swimming to focus on her university studies. She graduated with an applied science degree from the Queensland University of Technology in 1987. As of 2014, Sng is working as an IT specialist. She has two sons, Zachary and Sebastien, with her husband, Geoff Holden.[20]

References
  1. Seah, Janice (5 June 1985). "Just the ticket". The Straits Times. p. 35.
  2. Lim, Phay-Ling (7 July 1985). "Glamour and our golden girl". The Straits Times. p. 3.
  3. "Sportswoman of the Year". Singapore National Olympic Council. Archived from the original on 7 November 2013. Retrieved 31 October 2014.
  4. "Sportsgirl of the Year". Singapore National Olympic Council. Archived from the original on 14 November 2013. Retrieved 31 October 2014.
  5. "National Day Awards - award recipients". The Straits Times. 9 August 1982. p. 9.
  6. Miller, Brian (9 August 1982). "Greatest honour of my life, says Junie". The Straits Times. p. 1.
  7. "Here's the full list". The Straits Times. 19 December 1999. p. 52.
  8. Singh, Dharsan (16 March 1977). "Junie sets national open mark". The Straits Times. p. 31.
  9. Frida, Ernest (25 November 1977). "Junie's the golden girl". The Straits Times. p. 31.
  10. "Singapore's first gold". The Straits Times. 14 December 1978. p. 1.
  11. Johnson, Albert (14 December 1978). "Junie eyes the double after gold triumph". The Straits Times. p. 37.
  12. Johnson, Albert (15 December 1978). "Junie makes it a gold double". The Straits Times. p. 39.
  13. Johnson, Albert (18 December 1978). "Singapore finish overall second in swimming". The Straits Times. p. 35.
  14. Jalleh Jr, Ken (28 September 1979). "Junie bags her fifth gold". The Straits Times. p. 39.
  15. "Everybody loves a winner, especially Mum". The Straits Times. 3 October 1979. p. 24.
  16. "Junie is queen of the pool at 11th SEA Games". The Business Times. 14 December 1981. p. 11.
  17. Miller, Brian (1 June 1983). "Goodbye all..." The Straits Times. p. 1.
  18. Seah, Junie (30 May 1983). "Junie's twice as good as gold". The Straits Times. p. 30.
  19. Miller, Brian (2 June 1983). "The last of Junie the First". The Straits Times. p. 43.
  20. Wong, Kim Hoh (12 March 2014). "Swim Queen in the Asian Games". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 31 October 2014. Retrieved 31 October 2014.
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