Toh Wei Soong
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 also 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] 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.[2]
Early life and education
At the age of 2, Toh was affected by Transverse myelitis,[3] a condition caused by the inflammation of the spinal cord that has affected his lower nervous system.[4] The eldest of two children in his family, Toh studied at Anglo-Chinese School (Junior) and Anglo-Chinese School (Independent),[5] 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[6]. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics in 2024[7]. As an undergraduate, he was also a recipient of the Asia Pacific Breweries (APB) Foundation Scholarship for Persons with Disabilities.[8]
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.
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.[9] He was also a torchbearer alongside other Singaporean athletes such as Yip Pin Xiu and Tay Wei Ming[10]
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,[11] 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,[12] becoming the most decorated Singaporean athlete of the Games.[13]
2020 Summer Paralympics
At the 2020 Summer Paralympics held in Tokyo, Japan, Toh finished fourth place 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.[14]
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,[15] 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 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.[16]
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.[17] Toh was also the first medallist for Singapore at the Games with his silver medal in the S7 400-metre Freestyle event.[18] He later won three gold medals in the S7 100-metre Backstroke, the S7 50-metre Butterfly and the S7 50-metre Freestyle events, respectively.[19]
2024 Summer Paralympics
At the 2024 Summer Paralympics held in Paris, France, Toh finished eighth in both the S7 50-metre freestyle final and the S7 50-metre butterfly final.[20] He also swam in the S7 100-metre backstroke, finishing ninth place in the heats.[21]
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.[22]
Honours
Since 2013, Toh has competed at 2 Paralympic Games, 3 Asian Para Games, 2 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[23]
- Singapore Disability Sports Award, Sportsboy of the Year: 2019, 2020, 2021[24]
- Goh Chok Tong Enable Awards (GCTEA), Achievement Award: 2025[25]
- Goh Chok Tong Enable Awards (GCTEA), Promise Award: 2019[25]
- The Straits Times' Athlete of the Year, Nomination: 2019[26]
References
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Swimming: Singapore's Toh Wei Soong finishes 4th in 50m butterfly S7 final at Tokyo Paralympics". CNA. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
- ^ "Asean Para Games: Winner is a study in balance". Straits Times. 19 September 2017. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
- ^ "Looking to do Singapore proud at Asean Para Games". The New Paper. 14 September 2017. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
- ^ "Swimmer Toh Wei Soong hungry for more". Straits Times. 5 December 2015. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
- ^ "USP Student Named Sportsboy of the Year". www.usp.nus.edu.sg. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
- ^ "Going the distance: NUS athletes scoop up medals and degrees". Going the distance: NUS athletes scoop up medals and degrees. Retrieved 9 February 2026.
- ^ "Asia Pacific Breweries Foundation propels youths closer to their dreams - SPD". www.spd.org.sg. 8 October 2019. Retrieved 9 February 2026.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Asean Para Games: Pride is different this time, says cauldron lighter Yip". Straits Times. 4 December 2015. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
- ^ "Asean Para Games winners reap S$19,000 in cash rewards for gold medal performances". Today. 25 October 2017. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
- ^ "Asian Para Games: Swimmer Toh Wei Soong wins third medal". Channel NewsAsia. 11 October 2018. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
- ^ "Team Singapore net record medal haul at Asian Para Games". Channel NewsAsia. 13 October 2018. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
- ^ "Swimming: Singapore's Toh Wei Soong finishes 4th in 50m butterfly S7 final at Tokyo Paralympics". CNA. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
- ^ "Swimming: Toh Wei Soong clinches silver at 2022 Commonwealth Games". CNA. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
- ^ "3 more ASEAN Para Games golds for Singapore, 2 more meet records for Toh Wei Soong". CNA. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
- ^ 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. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
- ^ "Swimmer Toh Wei Soong wins Singapore's first medal at Asian Para Games in Hangzhou". CNA. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
- ^ "Singapore swimmer Toh Wei Soong wins two golds in a day at Hangzhou Asian Para Games". CNA. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
- ^ "Paris 2024: Fine final sprint from Toh Wei Soong to close out second Games". Active SG. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
- ^ "Paris 2024: Toh Wei Soong clinches season-best time with impressive swim". Active SG. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
- ^ "2025 Asean Para Games: Swimmer Toh Wei Soong scores third golden hat-trick". The Straits Times. Retrieved 25 January 2025.
- ^ "Yip Pin Xiu and Toh Wei Soong retain top honours at Singapore Disability Sports Awards". The Straits Times. 20 November 2025. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
- ^ "USP Student Named Sportsboy of the Year". NUS USP. Archived from the original on 21 December 2025. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
- ^ a b "The Goh Chok Tong Enable Awards recognise 15 Awardees for their achievements and efforts to champion inclusivity". Mediacorp. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
- ^ "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. Retrieved 25 January 2026.