Born and raised in the dynamic city-state of Singapore, Veronica Shanti Pereira has become a symbol of perseverance, grit, and national pride. From the sun-drenched school fields of her childhood to the roaring stadiums of international competitions, her journey as Singapore’s fastest woman is nothing short of extraordinary. Shanti, born to a modest Eurasian family, discovered her passion for sprinting at a young age, and her early years were filled with both raw talent and relentless discipline.
Growing up in a multicultural society where academic excellence often overshadowed sporting ambitions, Shanti faced a unique challenge: proving that a career in athletics was not just possible but worth pursuing. From her early schooling at CHIJ (Katong) Primary to her secondary education at the Singapore Sports School, her formative years were shaped by her determination to defy expectations. Her coaches quickly recognized her explosive speed and competitive spirit, nurturing her through structured training programs that laid the foundation for her professional career.
Her major breakthrough came in 2015 at the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Singapore, where she clinched gold in the women’s 200m sprint. She became the first Singaporean woman to do so in 42 years. The victory marked a historic turning point, catapulting her into the national spotlight and establishing her as a sporting icon. However, the road ahead was far from smooth. Despite early success, Shanti encountered years of inconsistency, injury, and self-doubt. Funding for athletes remained limited, and public attention quickly shifted away, leaving her to fight many of her battles quietly behind the scenes.
The most defining chapter of Shanti Pereira’s career began in 2022 and 2023, when she staged an incredible comeback. At the 2023 SEA Games in Cambodia, she made history again by winning both the 100m and 200m gold medals, a feat no Singaporean woman had ever achieved. Later that year, she went on to win silver in the 100m and gold in the 200m at the Asian Athletics Championships, becoming the first Singaporean to win an Asian track gold in nearly 50 years. These achievements were more than just medals; they were vindication for years of quiet persistence, hard work, and belief in herself when few others did.
Shanti’s story is not only about speed; it is about resilience. She is a trailblazer for Singaporean athletes, particularly women, who are often underrepresented in the elite sporting arena. Her legacy goes beyond records and titles. She has become a beacon of hope for young athletes across Southeast Asia who dream of standing on the world stage.
Today, Shanti Pereira is more than a sprinter. She is a national inspiration. Her name is etched into Singapore’s sporting history not just because of her unmatched pace, but because of her courage to chase excellence in the face of adversity. With every race, she continues to show that true champions are not defined by how fast they run, but by how fearlessly they rise.