Yeo, Joscelin (1981– ) Sportswoman. Yeo began swimming at the age of seven. In later years, she became the first swimmer in Singapore to beat the 60- second barrier for the 100- m freestyle. She went on to win 40 gold medals at eight Southeast Asian Games. Yeo won a bronze medal at the 1994 Asian Games in Hiroshima, and another at the 2002 Asian Games in Busan; and she was the first Singaporean to compete in four separate Olympic Games— Barcelona (1992), Atlanta (1996), Sydney (2000) and Athens (2004).

Joscelin Yeo was named Sportsgirl of the Year in 1994, and Sportswoman of the Year in 1994, 1996 and 2000. She was also a recipient of the Anne Broussard Spirit Award (2002) and the Arthur Ashe Jr Sports Scholar Award (2003) at the University of Texas, United States. In 2004, she won a Rhodes Scholarship to study at Oxford University.

By 2005, Yeo was the holder of national records in six individual events: the 50- m freestyle; 50- m butterfly; 100- m freestyle; 100- m butterfly; 200- m individual medley; and 400- m individual medley.

Photo credit: Singapore Press Holdings/ The Straits Times