Paris 2024: Toh Wei Soong clinches season-best time with impressive swim

By Nicole Chia

Swimmer Toh Wei Soong recorded a season-best time of 29.51 seconds in the 50m freestyle S7 at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games on 4 September (Paris time), finishing eighth in the final at the La Defense Arena.

Toh Wei Soong after the final of the 50m freestyle S7 event at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. Credit: SportSG/Eng Chin An

Defending champion Andrii Trusov of Ukraine retained his title with a blistering world record time of 26.38, shattering his previous time of 27.07. Carlos Daniel Serrano Zarate of Colombia finished second in 27.60 and Neutral Paralympic Athlete Egor Efrosinin placed third (28.02).

Swimming in Lane 8 during the final, Toh went all out from start to finish and never relented despite trailing. His effort was rewarded as he posted his fastest time in the 50m freestyle S7 this year. The Singaporean had equalled his season-best of 29.74 in the heats that morning, competing in Heat 2 where Trusov set a Paralympic record of 27.31 en route to topping the heats.

Toh Wei Soong swimming in the 50m freestyle S7 heats on 4 September at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. Credit: SportSG/Jeremy Lee

This is Toh’s second event of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. The 25-year-old first featured in the 100m backstroke S7, finishing ninth in 1:16.24. He returns to the La Defense Arena on 7 September for his final event of these Games – the 50m butterfly S7. On his Paralympic debut in Tokyo, Toh was fourth in the 50m butterfly with his time of 29.5s just 0.16 seconds off the bronze-winning time.

He competes in Paris as the reigning Asian Para Games champion in all three of his events, triumphing at the Hangzhou Games last year.

The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games take place in Paris, France from 28 August to 8 September 2024. For the latest Team Singapore coverage and news, follow Team Singapore on their social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok) or visit the official Team Singapore website.