It’s always nice to be recognised for your achievements, no matter how big or small they are. Especially if they’re big.
Hence, many were left rather puzzled when Joscelin Yeo, former Singapore swim queen, was left out of SportSG‘s Singapore’s Sport Hall of Fame (HOF).
Won 40 Medals For Singapore
Now a mother of four, Yeo has won an impressive amount of 40 medals across 7 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.
She is also Singapore’s only four-time Olympian, having swum for Singapore in four consecutive Olympics, from 1992 to 2004.
She was supposed to compete in the Beijing 2008 Olympics as well, but retired shortly before that in January 2007, as she did not have the motivation to go through another year of training.
That’s totally relatable. I don’t even have the motivation to get out of bed in the morning sometimes.
A Huge List of Accomplishment
The 40-year-old won the Singapore’s Sportsgirl of the Year award in 1994, and the Sportswoman of the Year awards in 1993, 1995 and 1999.
She also released an autobiography in 2004 titled “On the Move: My Career, My Life“, in which she wrote about all the milestones that she overcame in her swimming career and life in general.
Okay, this woman has done some seriously amazing things. And let’s not forget, she’s still only 40.
So Why Wasn’t She in the Sport Hall of Fame?
The Sport Hall of Fame, or HOF for short, was established in 1985 and currently has over 50 inductees.
It pays tribute to Singapore’s greatest sporting achievers who have represented the nation over the years, and are seen as icons for their respective sports.
Thus, the fact that Yeo was omitted from it raised a few eyebrows.
The issue was first brought to light by Jose Raymond, former vice-president of the Singapore Swimming Association (SSA), in an online article.
Veteran journalist Godfrey Robert also talked about it in a Business Times column in February.
This sparked a debate among many, who believed that Yeo should have been recognised for her work and all the medals that she has clinched for the nation.
“I’m a little shocked, I thought she was in the (Sport) Hall of Fame. Joscelin not being recognised poses a big question,” said Patricia Chan to The New Paper.
Chan was known as Singapore’s first “Golden Girl”, and she held the record for the highest number of gold SEA Games medals, at 39 medals, until Yeo surpassed her with 40.
“Yes, she should be… there’s no doubt that she has made a big contribution to Singapore sports… It is not just about being a sports icon…We are talking about a person giving their youth to a country and (doing it) as consistently as Jos did,” Chan added.
SportSG to Review Their Nomination & Selection Process
SportSG has since commented on the issue.
They were “heartened to see sustained interest and the lively discussions” on the topic, and they said that they would make improvements to the nomination and selection process.
Some notable names of other athletes in the HOF include Ang Peng Siong, Joseph Schooling and Patricia Chan.
“The committee has taken some feedback and will make improvements to the nomination and selection process, particularly with regard to widening the extent of stakeholder or public consultation,” said a spokesperson from SportSG.
Joscelin Yeo Never Did It For Fame
Despite the huge debate going on, Yeo herself does not seem to be too bothered that she was left out of the HOF.
She said that it had not even crossed her mind until she was asked about it.
“When I swam for Singapore, it was about giving my best to the country, my family and myself. I never did it for fame or the Hall of Fame,” said Yeo.
“If the powers that be feel that I am not deserving of this title or honour, then that’s their call. It does not take away from my achievements over the 17 years I swam for the nation.”
Yeo also added that she felt really humbled by those who called for her inclusion.
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Aww. Can we all agree that she definitely deserves the title?
SportSG
This is not the first time that SportSG has been called out for failing to reward their athletes. Last year, it was in the news for having “baffling” preferences for certain sports over others.
SportSG is in charge of developing the sports industry in Singapore. They also aim to increase sports participation among students and the elderly.
Their biggest ongoing project, Kallang Alive, is set to be complete in 2025. This will transform Kallang into a sport and world-class entertainment haven, and it includes features like Singapore’s first-ever velodrome, a speed climbing wall and an international sports medicine centre.
