SINGAPORE - Equestrian rider Laurentia Tan created Singapore sporting history early yesterday morning when she became the most bemedalled Singapore Paralympian since the Republic's 1988 debut at the quadrennial Games.
The 33-year-old won a bronze in her Grade 1A Individual Championship Dressage Test at London's Greenwich Park with a score of 73.650 to bag the third Paralympics medal of her competitive career.
Tan, 33, had also won bronze in the same event as well as another bronze in the Grade 1A Individual Freestyle test at the 2008 Beijing Games, an achievement which led to her receiving the Public Service Medal that same year.
Yesterday's bronze also marked Singapore's first Paralympics medal at this year's London Games.
Britain's Sophie Christiansen won the gold (82.750) and Ireland's Helen Kearney the silver (76.700). Tan's team-mate Gemma Foo finished 13th with a score of 65.050.
With her latest feat, Tan, who suffers from profound deafness and cerebral palsy, edged ahead of compatriot Yip Pin Xiu in the overall medals tally, beating Yip's total of two medal from the 2008 Beijing Games - a gold in the women's 50m (S3 category) backstroke and a silver in the 50m freestyle.
Yip, however, was in contention for her third medal earlier this morning in the 100m freestyle final.
She had finished second in Heat 1, qualifying for the final with a time of 2min 09.74sec, behind China's Xia Jiangbo who clocked a world record time of 1:49.01. Yip's time was the fourth fastest among all the other contestants in the other heats.
Monique Heah, team manager for the equestrian riders, said of Tan's achievement: "The competition standard is higher and much tougher compared to the last Paralympic Games, but both horse and rider performed very well to clinch the bronze medal."
Tan was glad that the ride with her horse Ruben James 2 went well and thanked her team-mates Maximillian Tan and Gemma.
"I'm happy that I got the medal as the competition standard is higher and harder this time," said the London-based athlete, who has a degree in hospitality management and tourism.
"I'm really happy and it hasn't quite sunk in yet. I have worked hard and I am grateful to the team and all the members for all the help and support provided."
Tan's achievement was also lauded by Acting Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports Chan Chun Sing, who expressed his delight on his Facebook page: "Congrats to Laurentia for your hard work," he wrote.
"Thank you also to the entire team of support staff, volunteers and supporters who made this possible.
"Thank you for flying the SG flag high."
Tan and team-mate Gemma will next compete in the Individual Freestyle Test tonight at 11pm, Singapore time.