From left to right: Han Liang Chou, Darren Chan, Danielle Moi, Jazlene Tan, Nur Anisah Daaniys, Dr Teo-Koh Sock Miang (President of SDSC), (front) Aloysius Gan. Credit: Singapore Disability Sports Council
The Singapore Disability Sports Council (SDSC) today unveiled the official medal design, the Championships theme song, and Team Singapore’s largest-ever contingent of Para swimmers for the Toyota World Para Swimming Championships – Singapore 2025.
The showcase took place at The Star Vista during the final Championships Roadshow ahead of the landmark event, which runs from 21 to 27 September at the OCBC Aquatic Centre.
This year’s medal was designed by 19-year-old national boccia athlete and two-time Sportsboy of the Year at the Singapore Disability Sports Awards, Aloysius Gan. Born with cerebral palsy, Gan is both a professional athlete and a freelance graphic designer, using assistive devices to channel the same precision and creativity into design as he does into his Paralympic dream.
Four distinct wave patterns adorn the medal’s front, symbolising the Paralympic values of courage, determination, inspiration and equality. The waves’ dynamic motion reflects the energy and spirit of the Championships.
The back of the medal features a touch of Singapore – its national flower, the orchid, encircling the medal to represent resilience, adaptability and harmony in diversity. Braille inscriptions spell out “Singapore 2025,” ensuring athletes with visual impairments can feel and recall their triumph.
The medal is intentionally designed to be slightly asymmetrical in thickness and detail – a reminder that beauty and strength can transcend conventional perfection, just like Para athletes.
Gan shared, “I hope every athlete carries the spirit of Para sport with them as they receive their medal. Each of them is creating their own wave, and that wave can ripple out to inspire the wider community.”
Gan’s design was brought to life by Christopher Lee, a 71-year-old local craftsman who has worked in minting since the age of 12. Similar to Paralympic medals, each World Championship medal is cast, pressed and polished, and the gold and silver medals are made with at least 92.5% sterling silver. Gold medals feature two to three microns of gold plating, while all medals are hardened and treated with UV coating for lasting brilliance.
Christopher also created a commemorative collar pin in gold, silver, or bronze, inspired by the Championships’ ripple logo, to be presented to each Championships winner alongside their medals — a keepsake athletes can carry proudly as a reminder of their achievement in Singapore 2025.
The Championships’ theme song, Calling, was performed live by homegrown pop artiste, Olivia Ong, and 13-year-old Nur Anisah Daaniys, a goalball athlete who has visual impairment.
The song was written and produced by local composer, Tan Kah Yong, who has worked with singers such as Tanya Chua, Kit Chan and Jocie Guo. Calling was adapted from a music assignment by Team Singapore Para swimmer Colin Soon, who passed away earlier this year. With his family’s blessing, SDSC ensured Colin’s music would live on at the World Championships, alongside the teammates he would have joined.
Ong said: “I’m very humbled and honoured to perform the theme song with my co-singer Anisah, and owe it to the athletes to convey the message of the theme song well. Music can be such a powerful tool to move hearts & minds, and I hope fellow Singaporeans will find inspiration in the song too!”
Nine athletes will represent Singapore on home ground this September – the nation’s largest World Championships line-up to date.
The team includes Yip Pin Xiu, 7-time Paralympic gold medallist; Sophie Soon, Paralympian; and Toh Wei Soong, Paralympian and Commonwealth Games medallist.
Unlike past Paralympic cycles, Yip has come straight off the back of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games – where she earned two golds for Singapore – and dived directly into preparations for Singapore 2025.
Yip reflected, “I’ll be working hard to defend my World Championships titles. It’s never an easy task. I’ve never competed in front of our home crowd at such a high-level competition, so the pressure is much greater – but I’m also really hoping to draw strength from our Singaporean crowd. I will give my very best to make Singapore proud.”
The Toyota World Para Swimming Championships – Singapore 2025 is part of Singapore’s SG60 Signature Events, marking the nation’s aspiration towards inclusivity with its first-ever hosting of the World Para Swimming Championships in Asia.
The Championships will take place over seven days of electrifying competition, from 21 to 27 September 2025, at the OCBC Aquatic Centre. Tickets are available at https://sistic.com.sg/events/
