Toh Wei Soong

Toh Wei Soong
PLY
Personal information
Born (1998-09-11) 11 September 1998
Singapore
Height1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Weight68 kg (150 lb)
Sport
SportSwimming
StrokesFreestyle, Butterfly
ClassificationsS7, S8
Medal record
Men's para swimming
Representing  Singapore
Event 1st 2nd 3rd
Asian Para Games 5 1 1
Commonwealth Games 0 2 1
ASEAN Para Games 11 5 1
Asian Youth Para Games 0 1 0
Pan Pacific Para Swimming Championships 0 1 0
Total 16 10 3
Asian Para Games
Gold medal – first place2018 Jakarta50 m freestyle S7
Gold medal – first place2018 Jakarta100 m freestyle S7
Gold medal – first place2022 Hangzhou50 m freestyle S7
Gold medal – first place2022 Hangzhou50 m butterfly S7
Gold medal – first place2022 Hangzhou100 m backstroke 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
Silver medal – second place2026 Glasgow50 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 freestyle S7
Gold medal – first place2023 Phnom Penh100 m freestyle S7
Gold medal – first place2023 Phnom Penh50 m butterfly S7
Gold medal – first place2025 Nakhon Ratchasima50 m freestyle S7
Gold medal – first place2025 Nakhon Ratchasima100 m freestyle S7
Gold medal – first place2025 Nakhon Ratchasima50 m butterfly 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
Silver medal – second place2025 Nakhon Ratchasima400 m freestyle S7
Bronze medal – third place2025 Nakhon Ratchasima100 m backstroke S7-S8
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

Toh Wei Soong PLY (Chinese: 杜维崧; pinyin: Dù Wéisōng; born 11 September 1998) is a Singaporean freestyle and butterfly swimmer. He is a two-time Paralympian and one of the most decorated Singaporean athletes with 5 gold medals at the Asian Para Games and 11 gold medals at the ASEAN Para Games.

He won the first-ever para sports medal for Singapore at the 2018 Commonwealth Games with a bronze medal in the S7 50 metre Freestyle[1] and currently holds the highest number of medals won by a Singapore swimmer at the Commonwealth Games with 2 silvers and 1 bronze.[2]

At the 2020 Summer Olympics, Toh finished fourth place in the S7 50 metre Butterfly final and missed the bronze medal by 0.16 seconds, marking his best career performance at a Paralympic event.[3]

Early life and education

At the age of 2, Toh was affected by Transverse myelitis,[4] a condition caused by the inflammation of the spinal cord that has affected his lower nervous system.[5] The eldest of two children in his family, Toh studied at Anglo-Chinese School (Junior) and Anglo-Chinese School (Independent),[6] graduating from the International Baccalaureate (IB) programme in 2017.

In 2019, Toh studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) at the National University of Singapore (NUS) under the University Scholars Programme.[7] He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics in 2024.[8] As an undergraduate, he was also a recipient of the Asia Pacific Breweries (APB) Foundation Scholarship for Persons with Disabilities.[9]

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 Anglo-Chinese School (Independent). 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.[10]

2014 Asian Para Games

At the 2014 Asian Para Games held in Incheon, South Korea, Toh competed for Singapore at the 2018 Asian Para Games in the S8 100M Freestyle, also serving as pledge taker for the Singapore contingent at the Games.[11]

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.[12] He was also a torchbearer alongside other Singaporean athletes such as Yip Pin Xiu and Tay Wei Ming[13]

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,[14] breaking several Games records for his events.

2018 Commonwealth Games

At the 2018 Commonwealth Games held on the 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 won another gold medal in the Men's 100-metre freestyle S7 event and a bronze medal in the Men's 100-metre backstroke S7 event,[15] becoming the most decorated Singaporean athlete of the Games.[16]

2020 Summer Paralympics

At the 2020 Summer Paralympics held in Tokyo, Japan, Toh finished fourth place in the Men's S7 50-metre Butterfly final, missing out on a bronze medal by 0.16 seconds. He also swam in the Men's S7 50-metre Freestyle and 400-metre Freestyle finals, finishing seventh in both events.[17]

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,[18] becoming the most decorated Singapore swimmer overall 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 for Singapore 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.[19]

2022 Asian Para Games

At the 2022 Asian Para Games held in Hangzhou, China, Toh won three gold medals and one silver medal for Singapore over 4 events, becoming the most decorated Singaporean athlete at the 2022 Asian Para Games.[20] Toh was also the first medallist for Singapore at the Games with his silver medal in the Men's S7 400-metre Freestyle event.[21] He later won three gold medals in the Men's S7 100-metre Backstroke, the Men's S7 50-metre Butterfly and the Men's S7 50-metre Freestyle events, respectively.[22]

2024 Summer Paralympics

At the 2024 Summer Paralympics held in Paris, France, Toh finished eighth in both the Men's S7 50-metre freestyle final and the Men's S7 50-metre butterfly final.[23] He also swam in the Men's S7 100-metre backstroke, finishing ninth place in the heats.[24]

2025 ASEAN Para Games

At the 2025 ASEAN Para Games held in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, Toh won three gold medals, one silver medal and one bronze medal for Singapore over 5 events, earning him the third golden hat-trick of his career at the ASEAN Para Games.[25]

2026 Commonwealth Games

At the 2026 Commonwealth Games held in Glasgow, Scotland, Toh won a silver medal for Singapore in the Men's S7 50-metre freestyle,[26] adding to his record as the most decorated Singapore swimmer overall at the Commonwealth Games with two silvers and one bronze medal.

Honours and awards

Since 2013, Toh has competed at 13 major games, including 2 Paralympic Games, 3 Asian Para Games, 3 Commonwealth Games, 4 ASEAN Para Games and 1 Asian Youth Para Games.

He has also received the following awards:

  • Singapore Disability Sports Award, Sportsman of the Year: 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025[27]
  • Singapore Disability Sports Award, Sportsboy of the Year: 2019, 2020, 2021[28]
  • Goh Chok Tong Enable Awards (GCTEA), Achievement Award: 2025[29]
  • Goh Chok Tong Enable Awards (GCTEA), Promise Award: 2019[29]
  • The Straits Times' Athlete of the Year, Nomination: 2019[30]

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. Archived from the original on 15 October 2018. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  2. ↑ "Commonwealth Games 2026: Toh Adds Third Medal to Historic Haul With Glasgow Silver". Sport Singapore. Retrieved 30 July 2026.
  3. ↑ "Swimming: Singapore's Toh Wei Soong finishes 4th in 50m butterfly S7 final at Tokyo Paralympics". CNA. Archived from the original on 9 January 2026. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
  4. ↑ "Asean Para Games: Winner is a study in balance". Straits Times. 19 September 2017. Archived from the original on 3 December 2017. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  5. ↑ "Looking to do Singapore proud at Asean Para Games". The New Paper. 14 September 2017. Archived from the original on 6 November 2023. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  6. ↑ "Swimmer Toh Wei Soong hungry for more". Straits Times. 5 December 2015. Archived from the original on 21 February 2019. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  7. ↑ "USP Student Named Sportsboy of the Year". www.usp.nus.edu.sg. Archived from the original on 20 February 2023. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  8. ↑ "Going the distance: NUS athletes scoop up medals and degrees". Going the distance: NUS athletes scoop up medals and degrees. Archived from the original on 16 July 2024. Retrieved 9 February 2026.
  9. ↑ "Asia Pacific Breweries Foundation propels youths closer to their dreams - SPD". www.spd.org.sg. 8 October 2019. Archived from the original on 16 January 2025. Retrieved 9 February 2026.
  10. ↑ "Toh Wei Soong bags a silver medal for the Men's 100m Freestyle event - Singapore National Paralympic Council". www.snpc.org.sg. Retrieved 30 July 2026.
  11. ↑ "Team Singapore Begins An Inspirational Journey Towards The Asian Games and The Asian Para Games" (PDF). Retrieved 30 July 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  12. ↑ "Asian Para Games: Mental images of race help swimmer Toh bag Singapore's first medal - a gold - in Jakarta". Straits Times. 7 October 2018. Archived from the original on 15 October 2018. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  13. ↑ "Asean Para Games: Pride is different this time, says cauldron lighter Yip". Straits Times. 4 December 2015. Archived from the original on 15 October 2018. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  14. ↑ "Asean Para Games winners reap S$19,000 in cash rewards for gold medal performances". Today. 25 October 2017. Archived from the original on 16 October 2018. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  15. ↑ "Asian Para Games: Swimmer Toh Wei Soong wins third medal". Channel NewsAsia. 11 October 2018. Archived from the original on 15 October 2018. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  16. ↑ "Team Singapore net record medal haul at Asian Para Games". Channel NewsAsia. 13 October 2018. Archived from the original on 14 October 2018. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  17. ↑ "Swimming: Singapore's Toh Wei Soong finishes 4th in 50m butterfly S7 final at Tokyo Paralympics". CNA. Archived from the original on 3 October 2023. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  18. ↑ "Swimming: Toh Wei Soong clinches silver at 2022 Commonwealth Games". CNA. Archived from the original on 23 September 2023. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  19. ↑ "3 more ASEAN Para Games golds for Singapore, 2 more meet records for Toh Wei Soong". CNA. Archived from the original on 30 October 2023. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  20. ↑ Ganesan, Deepanraj (27 October 2023). "Swimmer Toh Wei Soong 'not ecstatic' despite winning three gold medals at Asian Para Games". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. Archived from the original on 2 November 2023. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
  21. ↑ "Swimmer Toh Wei Soong wins Singapore's first medal at Asian Para Games in Hangzhou". CNA. Archived from the original on 2 November 2023. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
  22. ↑ "Singapore swimmer Toh Wei Soong wins two golds in a day at Hangzhou Asian Para Games". CNA. Archived from the original on 2 November 2023. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
  23. ↑ "Paris 2024: Fine final sprint from Toh Wei Soong to close out second Games". Active SG. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  24. ↑ "Paris 2024: Toh Wei Soong clinches season-best time with impressive swim". Active SG. Archived from the original on 11 December 2025. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  25. ↑ "2025 Asean Para Games: Swimmer Toh Wei Soong scores third golden hat-trick". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 25 January 2026. Retrieved 25 January 2025.
  26. ↑ "Singapore's Toh Wei Soong clinches Commonwealth silver". The Straits Times. 30 July 2026. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 30 July 2026.
  27. ↑ "Yip Pin Xiu and Toh Wei Soong retain top honours at Singapore Disability Sports Awards". The Straits Times. 20 November 2025. ISSN 0585-3923. Archived from the original on 9 January 2026. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
  28. ↑ "USP Student Named Sportsboy of the Year". NUS USP. Archived from the original on 21 December 2025. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
  29. 1 2 "The Goh Chok Tong Enable Awards recognise 15 Awardees for their achievements and efforts to champion inclusivity". Mediacorp. Archived from the original on 10 March 2026. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
  30. ↑ "ST Athlete of the Year nominee: A winner in sport, para-swimmer Toh Wei Soong wants to champion wider causes". The Straits Times. 1 February 2019. ISSN 0585-3923. Archived from the original on 27 February 2021. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
This page is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.