Cambodia 2023: Soon siblings face highs and lows with light heart

Siblings Colin Soon and Sophie Soon (fourth and fifth from right) were among Team Singapore's top performers in Cambodia, with a haul of medals in the pool. Photo: SportSG/Abd Rahman

By May Chen

To get a sense of how much swimming means to Colin Soon, one only needs to look as far as his Instagram handle. 

To understand the genesis of how “chlorinesoon” got to the point of becoming a record-breaking para-swimmer, there is elder sister Sophie Soon to help with that. 

In fact, it was largely due to Sophie that Colin was also put on the path to elite para-swimming. 

Elder sister, who is eight years older, was taking part in a local meet when Colin – still only a toddler then – walked by the pool as she swam down the lane. Despite not knowing how to swim, he cheekily joked that he would jump in after Sophie. 

He ended up falling in, but got himself out of the pool. Since then, however, few can keep the siblings away from racing in the water. 

Colin, 18, won four gold medals en route to breaking a list of Games and national records in Cambodia. Photo: SportSG/Abd Rahman

The Soon siblings have been stand-out performers at the 12th Asean Para Games in Cambodia. 

Colin picked up his fifth gold medal of the Games on Thursday (June 8), setting yet another Games and national record in the men’s 50m freestyle S13 in 27.02 seconds. 

Sophie, meanwhile, added to her haul too. She won her third title in Cambodia in the women’s 50m freestyle S13, clocking 33.26 seconds for a new Games record. 

Said Colin, now 18: “(Sophie) was a huge influence in my early life, especially getting me into swimming. I was really inspired to do whatever she tried to do. 

“She is a great inspiration to me as an elite athlete, although she’s not as involved as she was last time. I look up to her and she’s a great role model for me.” 

Sophie’s resilience has always been something he looks up to. 

He said: “If she really wants something, she'll go all out to get whatever she wants to achieve. That's a really good quality, and I hope that I can emulate it one day.”

Sophie Soon in action on Thursday in the women's 50m freestyle S13 where she took gold in a new meet record time. Photo: SportSG/Abd Rahman

The big sister and Tokyo Paralympian, however, is mindful of giving her little brother room to grow and progress at his own pace. 

Said Sophie: “I'm always going to be there for him if he ever asks me any questions (about swimming), but usually I feel that it's best if they learn on their own. Most of the time he pretty much figures things out on his own. 

“I think every athlete has their own routine, their own beliefs and of course, their own way of how they're going to move forward with improving their strokes or race strategies. So most of the time it's between him and coach. I'm just there to support him as his sibling.” 

The like-minded duo bond over plenty of similar interests. For starters, both are avid musicians who play the violin and enjoy laughing over the latest videos trending on the internet. 

Said Sophie: “We try and keep things as light-hearted as possible, whether we have succeeded or whether it’s something that we didn't do so well in. At the end of the day, we just like to laugh and smile and just try and bring an upbeat energy as much as we can.”

More than anything, it is a common experience in competing in elite para-swimming that they know they can always count on each other for. 

Colin Soon (centre) with teammate and bronze medallist Wong Zhi Wei (right) after the men's 50m freestyle S13 on Thursday. Photo: SportSG/Abd Rahman

Said Colin: “I have access to someone who instantly knows what I'm going through at least in the swimming side of things. She can definitely give me advice and comfort whenever I'm having my down times, and share the highs with me as well. 

“(But) the biggest way that we influence and support each other is simply just being there for each other. Whenever we each have our own problems, we sometimes talk to each other about it, and we consult each other. 

“A lot of our time is actually spent just laughing together and just having a good time. Her presence is a great tonic for me.” 

Para-swimming was, unsurprisingly, Team Singapore’s top-performing sport in Cambodia. The team wraps up its campaign with 11 golds, 10 silvers and eight bronzes. 

The 12th Asean Para Games are held in Cambodia from 3 to 9 June 2023. For the latest Team Singapore coverage and news, follow Team Singapore on their social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok) or visit the official Team Singapore website.