Ang Peng Siong (1962– ) Sportsman. National swimmer and two- time Olympian, Ang Peng Siong recorded the world’s best time (22.69 sec) for the 50- m freestyle in 1982. Unfortunately, that was before the event was officially recognized in the Olympics. A repeat of the feat in Seoul (1988), when the event was finally introduced to the Games, would have given him a bronze medal.

The son of 1964 judo Olympian Ang Teck Bee, Peng Siong made his international debut in 1978 at the Asian Games at age 16. He represented Singapore at the Olympics in Los Angeles (1984) and Seoul (1988). In Los Angeles, he won the consolation final of the 100- m freestyle in a national record of 51.09 sec. His medal haul includes a gold at the Asian Games in New Delhi in 1982 and a bronze at the Asian Games in Seoul in 1986. He was named Sportsman of the Year (1982, 1983, 1984) by the Singapore National Olympic Council, and was inducted into the Singapore Sports Council Hall of Fame.

In 1982, he won the gold medal at the US Nationals in 22.69 sec. Since 2000, he has been a regular at the World Masters event, one of the world’s most important swimming competitions. In 2002, at the age 40, he clocked 24.64 sec for the 50- m freestyle at the World Masters in Christchurch,which was just two seconds off his time when he was 20.

He has been the head coach of the Singapore swimming team at various Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and Olympic Games, and joined the Board of Governors of the Singapore Sports School.

Photo credit: Singapore Sports Council