In the world of athletics, where milliseconds separate champions from challengers, Veronica Shanti Pereira stands as a beacon of determination, resilience, and pride for Singapore. Born on 20 September 1996, Shanti’s journey from a wide-eyed schoolgirl watching her sister’s race to becoming Asia’s fastest woman in 2023 is nothing short of inspirational. She has broken barriers, rewritten records, and carried the hopes of an entire nation on her shoulders, becoming a role model for athletes across Asia.
Early Life of Shanti Pereira – Where Dreams Took Root
Shanti’s love affair with the track began when she was in Primary Three at CHIJ (Katong) Primary School. Watching her elder sister run a school race lit a spark in her heart. This moment shaped her destiny. Soon after, she enrolled in the Singapore Sports School, where she not only honed her athletic abilities but also proved her leadership by guiding her team to a C Division championship at the National School Games.
Her education journey was not without hurdles. While she pursued a diploma in sports and leisure management, and later an accountancy degree at Singapore Management University under the prestigious Yip Pin Xiu Scholarship, she faced setbacks when she lost the scholarship due to academic struggles. Yet, this did not break her spirit—she graduated in 2021, proving that perseverance always triumphs over failure.
Rising Through the Ranks – A Star in the Making
From the time she was a teenager, Shanti was rewriting history. In 2013, she became the first Singaporean woman to run the 100m under 12 seconds, clocking 11.89s at the World Youth Championships. A year later, she was the first to break the 24-second barrier in the 200m, clocking 23.99s at the Asian Junior Athletics Championships.
Her breakthrough came at the 2015 SEA Games, held on home soil. In front of roaring Singaporean fans, Shanti won bronze in the 100m and clinched gold in the 200m, ending a 42-year medal drought for Singapore in sprinting events. That moment cemented her as the face of Singapore athletics.
Shanti Pereira: The Struggles That Shaped Her
Between 2017 and 2020, Shanti’s career plateaued. Despite her talent, she faced mounting challenges—losing scholarships, battling injuries, and coping with intense scrutiny. For many athletes, such setbacks would have spelled the end. But for Veronica Shanti Pereira, adversity became fuel.
Her resilience paid off when she represented Singapore at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics (held in 2021), competing in the 200m. Though she did not advance past the heats, it was a stepping stone toward her meteoric rise that followed.
2023 – A Watershed Year
The year 2023 will forever be remembered as the season Shanti ascended to continental greatness. She smashed record after record:
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100m National Record: 11.20s
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200m National Record: 22.57s
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400m National Record: 53.67s
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4x100m Relay National Record: 44.96s
At the Asian Athletics Championships, she made history by winning gold in both the 100m and 200m, becoming the first Singaporean ever to achieve this feat. Her 200m timing of 22.70s set a new championship record, while her SEA Games sprint double win further underlined her dominance.
For the first time in history, a Singaporean topped the World Athletics Asian women’s 100m and 200m rankings. Shanti was no longer just a national hero—she was a continental icon.
Paris 2024 Olympics – A New Chapter
When Shanti stepped onto the track at the Paris 2024 Olympics, she carried not just her dreams, but the dreams of millions of Singaporeans. Though she bowed out in the heats of both the 100m and 200m, her mere presence at the Games was symbolic. She was now Singapore’s sprint queen, competing shoulder-to-shoulder with the world’s best.
Her setbacks in Paris were met not with disappointment, but with determination to rise again. As she once said, “It’s not about the medals alone—it’s about showing what Singapore can achieve on the world stage.”
2025 – Continuing the Legacy
In 2025, Shanti continued her form by winning both the 100m (11.45s) and the 200m (23.11s) at the Singapore Open, while also equaling the national 4x100m relay record with her teammates. At the Asian Athletics Championships, she clinched double silvers in the 100m and 200m, showing that she remains among Asia’s finest sprinters.
Beyond the Track – A Symbol of Inspiration
Shanti’s journey has been captured in the children’s book “Go Shanti Go!”, penned by her sisters Valerie and Shobi Pereira. Off the track, she found love and support in fellow sprinter Tan Zong Yang, to whom she is now engaged.
Her accolades include being named the Straits Times’ Athlete of the Year 2023 and Singapore Sportswoman of the Year 2024. Yet, her true legacy lies not in the medals or records, but in the hope she inspires in every young athlete who dares to dream.
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