Toh Wei Soong

Toh Wei Soong (Chinese: 杜维崧; pinyin: Dù Wéisōng; born 11 September 1998) is a Singaporean competitive swimmer. He was a bronze medallist in the S7 50 metre Freestyle at the 2018 Commonwealth Games[1] and a two-time gold medallist at the 2018 Asian Para Games for the S7 50 metre Freestyle and the S7 100 metre Freestyle events.

In this Chinese name, the family name is Toh.
Toh Wei Soong
Personal information
Born (1998-09-11) 11 September 1998
Singapore
Height1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Weight68 kg (150 lb)
Sport
SportSwimming
StrokesFreestyle
ClassificationsS7
Medal record
Men's para swimming
Representing  Singapore
Event 1st 2nd 3rd
Asian Para Games 2 1 1
Commonwealth Games 0 1 1
ASEAN Para Games 8 4 0
Asian Youth Para Games 0 1 0
Pan Pacific Para Swimming Championships 0 1 0
Total 10 8 2
Asian Para Games
Gold medal – first place2018 Jakarta50 m freestyle S7
Gold medal – first place2018 Jakarta100 m freestyle S7
Silver medal – second place2022 Hangzhou400 m freestyle S7
Bronze medal – third place2018 Jakarta100 m backstroke S7
Commonwealth Games
Silver medal – second place2022 Birmingham50 m freestyle S7
Bronze medal – third place2018 Gold Coast50 m freestyle S7
ASEAN Para Games
Gold medal – first place2015 Singapore50 m freestyle S8
Gold medal – first place2015 Singapore100 m freestyle S8
Gold medal – first place2015 Singapore100m backstroke S8
Gold medal – first place2017 Kuala Lumpur50 m freestyle S7
Gold medal – first place2017 Kuala Lumpur100 m freestyle S7
Gold medal – first place2023 Phnom Penh50 m butterfly S7
Gold medal – first place2023 Phnom Penh50 m freestyle S7
Gold medal – first place2023 Phnom Penh100 m freestyle S7
Silver medal – second place2015 Singapore400 m freestyle S8
Silver medal – second place2017 Kuala Lumpur100 m backstroke S7
Silver medal – second place2023 Phnom Penh400 m freestyle S7
Silver medal – second place2023 Phnom Penh100 m backstroke S7
Asian Youth Para Games
Silver medal – second place2013 Kuala Lumpur100 m freestyle S8
Pan Pacific Para Swimming Championships
Silver medal – second place2018 Cairns100 m freestyle S7

At the 2020 Summer Olympics, Toh finished fourth in the S7 50 metre Butterfly final, missing a bronze medal by 0.16 seconds.

Early life and education

At the age of 2, Toh was affected by Transverse myelitis,[2] a condition which is caused by the inflammation of the spinal cord and has affected his lower nervous system.[3] The eldest of two children in his family, Toh studied in Anglo-Chinese School (Junior) and Anglo-Chinese School (Independent),[4] graduating from the International Baccalaureate (IB) programme in 2017.

Toh is currently studying at the National University of Singapore in the University Scholars Programme.[5]

Swimming career

Toh started swimming competitively at the age of 14. He won the first-ever Special Event at the annual SSSC Championships, competing as a para-swimmer for ACS(I). In 2013 he joined Aquatic Performance Swim Club under the Singapore National Para-Swimming Team and met his current coach, Ang Peng Siong, a former Singaporean Olympic swimmer.

2013 Asian Youth Para Games

At the 2013 Asian Youth Para Games held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Toh won a silver medal in the Men's 100 metre freestyle S8 event, his first medal in an international event.

2015 ASEAN Para Games

At the 2015 ASEAN Para Games held in Singapore, Toh rose to prominence by winning three gold medals and one silver medal from his 4 events.[6] He was also a torch bearer alongside other Singaporean athletes such as Yip Pin Xiu and Tay Wei Ming[7]

2017 ASEAN Para Games

At the 2017 ASEAN Para Games held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Toh won two gold medals and one silver medal from his 3 events,[8] breaking several Games records for his events.

2018 Commonwealth Games

At the 2018 Commonwealth Games held in Gold Coast, Australia, Toh won the first para-swimming medal for Singapore in the Men's 50 metre freestyle S7 event, obtaining a bronze medal. He is also the second person to win a swimming medal for Singapore at the Commonwealth Games, following up on Joseph Schooling's silver medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, UK.

2018 Asian Para Games

At the 2018 Asian Para Games held in Jakarta, Indonesia, Toh won the first medal for Singapore at the 2018 Asian Para Games, obtaining a gold medal in the Men's 50 metre freestyle S7 event on the first day of competition, beating competitors Daisuke Ejima from Japan and Ernie Gawilan from the Philippines. He went on to win another gold medal in the Men's 100 metre freestyle S7 event as well as a bronze medal in the Men's 100 metre backstroke S7 event,[9] becoming the most decorated Singaporean athlete of the Games.[10]

2020 Summer Olympics

At the 2020 Summer Olympics held in Tokyo, Japan, Toh finished fourth in the S7 50 metre Butterfly final, missing out on a bronze medal by 0.16 seconds. He also swam in the S7 50 metre Freestyle and S7 400 metre Freestyle finals, finishing seventh in both events respectively.[11]

2022 Commonwealth Games

At the 2022 Commonwealth Games held in Birmingham, England, Toh won a silver medal for Singapore in the Men's S7 50 metre freestyle,[12] becoming the most decorated Singapore swimmer at the Commonwealth Games with one silver and one bronze medal.

2023 ASEAN Para Games

At the 2023 ASEAN Para Games held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Toh won three gold medals and two silver medals over 5 events, setting new Games Records in the S7 Men's 50 metre Butterfly and S7 Men's 100 metre Freestyle respectively, with a new National Record set in the S7 Men's 100 metre Backstroke.[13]

References
  1. "Commonwealth Games: Toh Wei Soong clinches swimming bronze in S7 50m freestyle final securing Singapore's first-ever Para Sports and Para Swimming medal at the Commonwealth Games". Straits Times. 9 April 2018. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  2. "Asean Para Games: Winner is a study in balance". Straits Times. 19 September 2017. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  3. "Looking to do Singapore proud at Asean Para Games". The New Paper. 14 September 2017. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  4. "Swimmer Toh Wei Soong hungry for more". Straits Times. 5 December 2015. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  5. "USP Student Named Sportsboy of the Year". www.usp.nus.edu.sg. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  6. "Asian Para Games: Mental images of race help swimmer Toh bag Singapore's first medal - a gold - in Jakarta". Straits Times. 7 October 2018. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  7. "Asean Para Games: Pride is different this time, says cauldron lighter Yip". Straits Times. 4 December 2015. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  8. "Asean Para Games winners reap S$19,000 in cash rewards for gold medal performances". Today. 25 October 2017. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  9. "Asian Para Games: Swimmer Toh Wei Soong wins third medal". Channel NewsAsia. 11 October 2018. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  10. "Team Singapore net record medal haul at Asian Para Games". Channel NewsAsia. 13 October 2018. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  11. "Swimming: Singapore's Toh Wei Soong finishes 4th in 50m butterfly S7 final at Tokyo Paralympics". CNA. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  12. "Swimming: Toh Wei Soong clinches silver at 2022 Commonwealth Games". CNA. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  13. "3 more ASEAN Para Games golds for Singapore, 2 more meet records for Toh Wei Soong". CNA. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
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