Singapore’s Sports Champions: SNOC launches new children’s book series on local athletes

Singapore, 2 August 2025 – The Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC) is proud to unveil Singapore’s Sports Champions, a six-book children’s series that celebrates the inspiring journeys of eight Team Singapore athletes.

Created to nurture a love of sport and reading among young Singaporeans, the series profiles footballers Irfan, Ikhsan and Ilhan Fandi, badminton player Loh Kean Yew, kitefoiler Maximilian Maeder, sprinter Shanti Pereira, swimmer Joseph Schooling, and golfer Shannon Tan.

Launched in celebration of SG60, Singapore’s Sports Champions is designed to connect children with the values of Olympism – excellence, friendship, and respect – while encouraging them to pursue their sporting dreams.

“This book series honours eight of our Team Singapore athletes, and through their journeys, we hope to spark the imagination of the next generation. Because there’s no better way to inspire young people than through real-life role models,” said Ms Grace Fu, President of the Singapore National Olympic Council.

“We chose to tell their stories through books—not just to celebrate their achievements, but to encourage young people to read. In this digital age, books offer something more enduring— reflection, imagination, focus. Perhaps even the motivation to get off the screen, and onto the field, the court, or the track.”

Written by a talented young team from content and communications agency The Nutgraf – Chen Jei Min, Matthew Gan, Claire Lum, Jaime Niam, Puah Rui Xian, and Derek Wong – each book combines vibrant storytelling with life lessons from the athletes’ perseverance and triumphs. The books are available individually or as a commemorative box set.

The series is part of SNOC’s broader mission to promote the Olympic spirit in Singapore and inspire young minds through stories of local role models who have overcome adversity to shine on the world stage. It also seeks to build support for national athletes and encourage greater youth participation in sport, laying the foundation for future generations of Olympians.

One of the writers, Derek Wong, said: “Children in Singapore are familiar with the stories of global sports stars like Lionel Messi. Finally, they can read all about champions from these very shores, Singaporeans who are just like them.”

Singapore’s Sports Champions is will be available at major bookstores and online at https://nutgraf.com.sg/books/.