SINGAPORE (ANN/STRAITS TIMES) – Southeast Asia equaled its best gold-medal haul at a single Olympics with five golds, three silvers, and eight bronzes during a commendable performance at the Paris 2024 Games. Athletes from the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore secured podium finishes with standout performances.
The region’s total of 16 medals—5 golds, 3 silvers, and 8 bronzes—is second only to the 5-10-3 tally achieved at Rio 2016 and marks an improvement from the 3-4-6 haul at Tokyo 2021.
Philippines (2 golds, 2 bronzes)
The Philippines shone brightly with their best Olympic performance, driven by the exceptional efforts of athletes standing under 1.6 meters tall. Gymnast Carlos Yulo made history with double victories in the men’s vault and floor exercise, while boxers Aira Villegas and Nesthy Petecio secured bronze.
These achievements continue the legacy of Hidilyn Diaz, who became the nation’s first Olympic champion at Tokyo 2020.
The Philippines has also focused on increasing its depth in gymnastics by recruiting foreign-born talents like Emma Malabuyo, Aleah Finnegan, and Levi Jung-Ruivivar, who represented the country at the Paris Games.
Indonesia (2 golds, 1 bronze)
For the first time, Indonesia clinched Olympic gold outside of badminton at Paris 2024. Sport climber Veddriq Leonardo captured gold in the men’s speed climbing event, while weightlifter Rizki Juniansyah added another gold. Gregoria Tunjung continued Indonesia’s badminton success with a women’s singles bronze.
Leonardo’s gold in climbing, a sport that debuted at Tokyo 2020, demonstrates how athletes from the region can excel in emerging sports that require less infrastructure.
Thailand (1 gold, 3 silvers, 2 bronzes)
Thailand’s Panipak Wongpattanakit successfully defended her taekwondo -49kg gold medal, while the country’s weightlifters proved their dominance with two silvers and one bronze. Thailand’s weightlifting success underscores its status as a powerhouse in the sport, despite overcoming a ban from the Tokyo Games due to doping issues.
The country also saw its biggest spread of sports contributing to its medal tally, with badminton, boxing, and taekwondo athletes bringing home medals. Notably, badminton world champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn earned a historic men’s singles silver.
Malaysia (2 bronzes)
Malaysia continues to pursue its first Olympic gold, with badminton once again delivering results.
Lee Zii Jia won bronze in men’s singles, while Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik secured bronze in men’s doubles. Lee’s podium finish, despite leaving the national team in 2022, highlights the potential for both national and independent athletes to achieve success.
Despite some close calls, such as Pearly Tan and Thinaah Muralitharan’s fourth-place finish in women’s doubles, Malaysia remains committed to fostering an environment that supports mental strength and athlete development.
Vietnam (no medals)
Vietnam’s Olympic campaign saw its best chance of a medal slip away as women’s 10m air pistol shooter Trinh Thu Vinh narrowly missed the podium, finishing fourth. The nation has now finished empty-handed in consecutive Games, prompting local media to call for stronger sports leadership and better preparation for international competition.
Looking ahead, the next three SEA Games in Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore will feature a standard sports program to help athletes better prepare for the Olympics and Asian Games, signaling a positive step for the region’s future Olympic prospects.
