1. SHANTI PEREIRA (SGP) AGE: 28 ATHLETICS
After a stress injury that saw her miss out on her Paris 2024 200m semi-final target, Singapore's fastest woman will be fired up for 2025 with the Sept 13-21 world championships and Dec 9-20 SEA Games on the horizon. She will be aiming to get back on track after a 2023 season that saw her claiming 100m and 200m crowns at the SEA Games and Asian Championships, and a gold and silver at the Asian Games.
2. SYDNEY MCLAUGHLIN-LEVRONE (USA) 25 ATHLETICS
The American has shown no sign of slowing down after blitzing to the 400m hurdles gold at the Paris Olympics and setting a world record in the event for the sixth time. Still just 25, she will be one to watch at the world championships, Diamond League and the Grand Slam Track, a new global league by American sprint great Michael Johnson.
3. GOUT GOUT (AUS) 17 ATHLETICS
Born in Queensland to South Sudan immigrants, the teenage sprinter won the 200m at Australia's national schools championships in 20.04sec to become the fastest 16-year-old half-lap runner of all time. In the process, he eclipsed Jamaican legend Usain Bolt's record of 20.13sec at the same age. Expect 2025 to be a speedy year for Gout, who boasts a personal best of 10.17 seconds in the 100m.
4. YEO JIA MIN (SGP) 25 BADMINTON
Yeo had a markedly improved 2024 season, reaching a career-high world No. 13 ranking in November, on the back of her better endurance. She has been consistently reaching the quarter-finals after the Paris Olympics, having beaten several top-10 players. There is hope that new badminton women's singles coach Kim Ji-hyun can help her translate that into titles in 2025.
5. TOMOKA MIYAZAKI (JPN) 18 BADMINTON
This story is from the January 01, 2025 edition of The Straits Times.
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This story is from the January 01, 2025 edition of The Straits Times.
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