Singapore, March 17, 2026: The Secretary General of the Singapore National Olympic Council, Mark Chay, has paid tribute to the legacy and enduring personality of Singapore’s first female Olympian, Tang Pui Wah.
“She was every bit as warm, sharp and full of stories as you could imagine,” Chay posted on social media after a recent meeting with the 92-year-old former sprinter and hurdler.
“Together with SNOC President Grace Fu and Olympians Singapore President Lee Wung Yew, I joined filmmaker Brenda Er for a visit that felt both intimate and significant. Brenda directed "When the Stars Align" in 2016 - a beautiful documentary portrait of Mdm. Tang's journey.”
He added: “Listening to Mdm. Tang speak of her school days and her years on the track was to enter a different era. She described a time when the world moved differently, when priorities were not what they are now, and when a young woman pursuing sport required not just talent but uncommon courage. The hurdles she faced were not only on the track. Yet she cleared them all.”
This visit, coming just days after International Women's Day, felt deeply fitting, he said.
“Mdm. Tang's place in our history is not merely symbolic. She built the foundation upon which generations of Singaporean sportswomen now stand.
“Mdm. Tang once said, and I carry her words with me: ‘If there are several hurdles in front of you, don't be scared. In life, you conquer one hurdle after another. So, I'm not afraid of difficulties’.”
Tang Pui Wah, now aged 92, competed in the women's 100 metres and women's 80 metres hurdles at the 1952 Olympic Games.
(Mark Chay Facebook)