Yeo is Singapore’s big hope for a gold medal

Sydney: A mix of Singaporean perfectionism and American hard work are behind the rise of the island-state's best athlete at the Summer Olympics, her coach said on Thursday.

Swimmer Joscelin Yeo is Singapore's top prospect at the Games, although her coach Michael Walker declined on Thursday to make any predictions on any of the five events for which Singapore's "Golden Girl" is entered.

"People in Singapore are driven, and they do strive for excellence and I think that really does parallel her very well," Walker said. "Her goals are very representative of the Singaporean people, which is excellence," he added.

Yeo has been coached by Walker while attending the University of California at Berkeley for the last two years and is following him this year to the University of Texas, where he is the head swimming coach.

"The hard work in the United States has paid off. I don't know what her times will be here, but I know she is progressing in so many areas," Walker said.

Expectations in sports-mad Singapore have been high since Yeo anchored her Berkeley team in March to a short course world record in the 4 x 50 metres medley relay at the US College Championships.

"It's all about confidence. Any situation you have where you can compete against the best in the world, whether in the States or elsewhere, makes you better and a seasoned veteran," Walker said about Yeo's record-setting performance.

Yeo, who is competing in her second Olympics, is entered in five events, but Walker said they would decide on her schedule depending on her results.He also said the "rah, rah" style of US college teams had started to rub off on Yeo, who turns 21 on October 2.

"This is someone who was very introverted and has started to take a real forward role on the Singapore team," he said. There are seven other swimmers on Singapore's team of 14 athletes, and Yeo will carry the country's flag at Friday's Opening Ceremony.

"Carrying the flag is the best and the worst," Walker said, adding it was an honour for an athlete but also meant a long day. Yeo's first heat, in the 100 metres butterfly, is on Saturday.

Singapore are still looking for their second Olympic medal after weightlifter Tan Howe Liang's surprise second place finish in the lightweight division in Rome in 1960.

The Singapore Olympic Council has promised a reward of Singapore $ 1 million ($ 574,380) to any member of the team for a gold medal, S $ 500,000 for silver and S $ 250,000 for a bronze.



(c) Reuters Limited.