2024 ST Athlete of the Year nominee Jeralyn Tan

Q: What do you love most about boccia?

Besides the excitement of going to overseas competitions, I enjoy meeting new friends and trying new food in different countries. The best part is that I get to travel and explore new countries together with my team, coach and caregiver.

Q: What’s the most unexpected thing that has happened to you during a competition?

It was when my father accompanied me to an overseas competition for the first time. During my final match, he was standing in the spectator stands. He clapped non-stop throughout my entire match.

It was unexpected because usually supporters will only clap for a good shot. It made me and my coach happy, and motivated us throughout the competition!

Q: If you had a theme song for boccia, what would it be?

I would want it to be Fight Song by Rachel Platen, because the song is all about fighting and turning my power on! I think that the lyrics are so motivating.

Q: What’s one thing about boccia that people don’t know?

It’s not as easy as it might look. The little things matter: a millimetre this way or that, the roll of the court, the hardness and texture of the ball, among other factors.

Boccia is a sport that requires strategy, precision and control, and it takes a lot of hard work to compete at the highest level.

Q: What has been the biggest challenge in your career, and how did you overcome it?

The biggest challenge in my boccia career was staying committed and motivated for so many years without a breakthrough performance.

I started competing seriously in 2008, and for more than 10 years, I trained hard but didn’t achieve major results. It was difficult to keep going when progress felt slow, and sometimes