Singapore’s Chef de Mission, Theresa Goh, returned to the World Games scene in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, 20 years after her first participation as an athlete at the 2003 IWAS World Games.

Leading a team of seven athletes in cycling, powerlifting, shooting and table tennis, the swimming sensation comes full circle back to her sporting roots at the Games.

At just 16 years old, the 2003 International Stoke Mandeville Wheelchair Sports Federation Games (the forerunner of the IWAS Games) in Christchurch, New Zealand was among one of Goh’s first international competitions. Reflecting on this experience, Goh said: “I remember participating in the IWAS Games very early on and being an incredible experience getting to compete against people from all over the world. It helped me get started on my journey and prepare for my first Paralympic Games the following year in Athens 2004.”

Goh’s most successful Games was at the 2007 IWAS World Games in Taipei which saw her take home a haul of three golds, three silvers and a bronze.

During her illustrious sporting career, Goh competed at four Paralympic Games and claimed a bronze medal at Rio 2016 in the SB4 100m breaststroke as well as World Championship and Asian Para Games titles.

Having retired from competitive sport in 2019, Goh is now supporting the next generation of para sport stars through her work with World Singapore Disability Sport Council.

Goh shared: “I can’t believe it’s been 20 years since my first time participating as an athlete at the IWAS Games in 2003! It is a huge honour to be Chef de Mission for Singapore and I count myself lucky to be able to lead such a young and passionate team of athletes. I’m truly honoured to continue on what will hopefully be a long and enjoyable journey in competitive sport.”