SINGAPORE: The year was 1988, and swimmer Thomas Yong helped to make history for Singapore.

He was part of a group of eight selected as part of the first contingent to represent the country at a Paralympic Games. 

Yong, who is visually impaired, overcame many struggles to get to the event in Seoul, South Korea. 

He recalls going to local swimming pools for extra training sessions and being turned away by lifeguards. Never mind that he was more than capable of taking the plunge.

“If I went alone, very often the lifeguard (would) turn me away,” Yong, who is now 67, told CNA. “They would say 'You are blind, it is very dangerous you might drown'. They would tell me it’s best if you get a partner.”

So Yong would rope in a friend.

“(Then) when I got to the swimming pool, they (would) tell me: ‘Oh you're blind. I can only allow youto swim in the learners’ pool.’ I said: ‘Ok no problem’. Then after a short while, five minutes in the learners pool, I hopped into the main pool.

“After that, when they saw me swim, they left me alone."

A world away in Seoul, Yong qualified for the finals in one of his three events - the 100m butterfly B1 - and finished in eighth place.