By REDintern Fiona Lee
Suhairi Suhani (right) won 2 gold and 1 bronze short track speed skating. With him is his coach, Lucas Ng. (Photo 1 © John Yeong/SSC)
Pyeongchang, South Korea, January 29-February 5, 2013 — Salbiah Bte Zakaria, Phil Anthony Labramonte Razo and Suhairi Bin Suhani brought home four gold medals between them for Singapore from the 11th Special Olympics World Winter Games.
The three athletes won their gold medals in short track speed skating.
“I felt very nervous to be competing on such a large-scale platform in a crowded ice-skating rink for the first time, but I felt proud of myself to have completed the race,” said 18-year-old Salbiah, who won gold in the 222m race.
Salbiah added that getting to make new friends from different countries proved to be the icing on the cake. She also won a silver in the 111m race.
The Special Winter Olympics is a multi-sport tournament where children and adults with intellectual disabilities compete in Olympic-type sports.
16-year-old Suhairi, competing for the first time in an international event, won gold in the 222m and 333m races.
“I told myself before the race to just do my best and focus on the race,” said Suhairi.
Suhairi also added to his collection when he won a bronze medal in the 111m race.
“The athletes from other countries gave a good fight in all the races but I am happy and proud I won two golds and one bronze,” added Suhairi.
This is the first time the short track speed skating team has made its debut in a major competition, after the Singapore Ice Skating Association (SISA) was set up in 1988.
“The whole team is very proud of all our athletes for their achievements in this Games,” said Lucas Ng, the head coach of the short track speed skating team.
Singapore’s third gold came from Phil Razo in the 333m race.
Singapore were represented in two of the eight sports featured in the Games, namely floor hockey and short track speed skating.
Floor hockey, played on wooden flooring, is an adaption of ice hockey while short track speed skating is a sport of speed and strategy on an 111-meter ice circuit.
Singapore finished fourth in floor hockey.
Medallists
Short Track Speed Skating
Gold
Salbiah Bte Zakaria (222m)
Phil Anthony Labramonte Razo (333m)
Suhairi Bin Suhani (222m & 333m)
Silver
Salbiah Bte Zakaria (111m)
Bronze
Nurul Aznizah Bte Azni (222m & 333m)
Suhairi Bin Suhani (111m)
4th Ribbon
Nurul Aznizah Bte Azni (111m)
Phil Anthony Labramonte Razo (111m & 222m)
Salbiah Bte Zakaria (333m)
Floor Hockey (team)
4th Ribbon
