Toh Wei Soong has come in ninth in the men’s 100m backstroke S7 heat at the 2024 Paralympics. The swimmer, who was Singapore’s flag bearer during the opening ceremony, competed in the Paris La Defense Arena on Sep. 3 at 3:30pm (Singapore time). Toh finished with a time of 1 minute and 16.24 seconds. He was up against nine other swimmers, including Andrii Trusov from Ukraine, who holds the world and Paralympic records with times of 1:07.60 and 1:08.14 respectively. The eight fastest swimmers qualified for the final. As a reserve, Toh will only be able to enter the final if one of the top eight swimmers does not participate.
## Background
This is Toh’s second Paralympics. He first picked up swimming when he was six, as a form of therapy, after he was diagnosed with Transverse Myelitis at two. It wasn’t long before he grew to love being in water, where he could do things that he could not on land. At 25, the swimmer has bagged an impressive collection of swimming medals. All eyes were on him at the 2023 Asian Para Games in China, after he brought home three golds and one silver. Previously that year, he had finished the ASEAN Para Games held in Cambodia on a high note as well, winning three golds and two silvers, and setting new tournament records and a new national record.
## Toh’s performance in Paris
Toh Wei Soong’s performance in the 100m backstroke S7 heat at the 2024 Paralympics was closely watched. Competing against top-tier athletes, Toh clocked a time of 1 minute and 16.24 seconds, placing him ninth. Despite not making it to the final, Toh’s determination and skill were evident. “It’s a great opportunity but the learnings we had here will help us improve and come back stronger,” Toh said after the race.
## Previous achievements
Toh’s journey in competitive swimming has been marked by significant achievements. At the 2023 Asian Para Games in China, he won three gold medals and one silver. His performance at the ASEAN Para Games in Cambodia was equally impressive, where he secured three golds and two silvers, setting new tournament records and a national record. These accomplishments have established Toh as a prominent figure in para-swimming.
## Future prospects
The 2024 Paris Games offer Toh Wei Soong a second chance to achieve his Paralympic dreams. After narrowly missing out on the podium at the 2020 Tokyo Games, Toh is hoping to medal in his events. He has met the Paralympics qualifying time in the S7 50m and 400m freestyle, 100m backstroke, and 50m butterfly. Toh and his team are fine-tuning details to improve his timings. “The learnings we had here will help us improve and come back stronger,” Toh remarked, reflecting on his experience in Paris.
