Epoch Times
24 AUGUST 21 – SEPTEMBER 3, 2015
Home By Epoch Times Staff
S Ordinary Singaporeans, Extraordinary Stories
Paralympic Medallist on Overcoming Adversity…
Anything is Possible!
ometimes, the most painful events in life can become the greatest drive for a person’s life passion. Barely one week old, Singaporeborn Laurentia Tan became seriously ill. When she was 10 months old, she was so floppy that her parents were told that she was a “vegetable”, a “retard”, a “spastic”, and she might never be able to walk. “I was very floppy and unable to sit or walk, and doctors thought I might never walk and need institutional care,” recalls Laurentia. Thankfully, her determined parents did not heed the doctor’s advice—the family packed their bags and moved to the United Kingdom when Laurentia was only 3 years old. It was only then when they arrived in England that they realised Laurentia was diagnosed with cerebral palsy (CP) and profound deafness. To strengthen her core stability and muscles, as well as her confidence and self-esteem, Laurentia started horse riding Paralympic as a form of medallist physiotherapy at Laurentia Tan the age of 5. The strong-willed and determined Laurentia was striving to do anything her able-bodied friends could do. She took part in various sports and even became a swimmer at the British Nationals. And today, three decades later, Laurentia is Singapore’s best-known Paralympian, having won two bronze medals at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics, and a silver and a bronze at the 2012 London Games. She was elected Athlete Representative for Para Equestrian sports, and Solidarity Ambassador for the International Federation of Equestrian (FEI)—the only Asian amongst the eight accomplished riders who help the federation in its efforts to develop equestrian sports around the world.
Our glorious moments are not in never failing, but in rising every time we fall.
Overcoming Adversity
To Laurentia, deafness is more of a barrier compared to her physical disabilities, as deafness is ‘invisible’ and many people do not realise she cannot hear. She is always extrapolating information and gets tired more easily, so people might not have the patience to converse with her. So what motivates Laurentia to overcome adversity?