# Pat Chan

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**Patricia Chan Li-Yin** (陈丽燕; born 12 April 1954), popularly known as **Pat Chan** and the "Golden Girl", is a retired swimmer from Singapore. Between 1965 and 1973 she won 39 gold medals at [Southeast Asian Games](/source/Southeast_Asian_Games), which was the best achievement for a Singaporean athlete in any sport until 2005. She competed in eight events at the [1966](/source/1966_Asian_Games) and [1970 Asian Games](/source/1970_Asian_Games) and won 3 silver and 5 bronze medals.[1] At the 1970 Games she set a national record in the 200 m backstroke that stood for 23 years. At the [1972 Summer Olympics](/source/1972_Summer_Olympics) she was the [flag bearer for Singapore](/source/List_of_flag_bearers_for_Singapore_at_the_Olympics) and competed in the 100 m and 200 m backstroke events, but failed to reach the finals.[2] Chan was named the Best Sportswoman of Singapore for five consecutive years (1967–1971).[3] In 2002, she was inducted into the Singapore Sports Council Hall of Fame and ranked fourth among Singapore's 50 greatest athletes.[4]

Chan retired from competitions in 1973, aged 19, to become the first Singaporean female professional coach. She later turned to journalism, and currently runs her own media company, Visus Inq.[4]

## Family

Patricia and her siblings were coached by their father, [Chan Ah Kow](/source/Chan_Ah_Kow), the Singaporean Coach of the Year in 1970 and 1971. Her brother [Roy Chan Kum Wah](/source/Roy_Chan), won a bronze medal at the [1970 Asian Games](/source/1970_Asian_Games) in the 4×200 m relay.[1][5][6] Her two other brothers, Alex Chan Meng Wah and [Bernard Chan Cheng Wah](/source/Bernard_Chan_(swimmer)), were swimmers too; the latter competed at the [1966 Asian Games](/source/1966_Asian_Games) and [1964 Summer Olympics](/source/1964_Summer_Olympics).[7][8] Her other brother [Mark Chan](/source/Mark_Chan) is a composer,[9][10] while her elder sister, [Victoria Chan-Palay](/source/Victoria_Chan-Palay) is a prominent neuroscientist in the United States and Switzerland.[11] Her niece, [Marina](/source/Marina_Chan), is an international swimmer.[12]

## References

1. ["Asian Games Winners"](https://web.archive.org/web/20100412074517/http://www.singaporeolympics.com/files/Asian-Games-Winners3.pdf). Singapore National Olympic Council. 2002. Archived from [the original](http://www.singaporeolympics.com/files/Asian-Games-Winners3.pdf) on 12 April 2010. Retrieved 2012-11-03.

1. [Pat Chan](https://web.archive.org/web/20200418004716/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ch/pat-chan-1.html). sports-reference.com

1. [Patricia Chan](http://www.sportsmuseum.com.sg/heroes/hall_of_fame/patricia_chan.html) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20140122145916/http://www.sportsmuseum.com.sg/heroes/hall_of_fame/patricia_chan.html) 22 January 2014 at the Wayback Machine. sportsmuseum.com.sg

1. ["Patricia Chan Li Yin | Infopedia"](https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_1376_2010-04-29.html). *eresources.nlb.gov.sg*

1. ["Swimmer Roy also shines in studies"](http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19720313-1.2.35.aspx). *The Straits Times*. 1972-03-13. Retrieved 2012-11-03.

1. ["Roy to unveil plaque at Ocean Building"](http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19740717-1.2.45.aspx). *The Straits Times*. 1974-07-17. Retrieved 2012-11-03.

1. ["Swim star weds"](http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19780804-1.2.162.3.aspx). *The Straits Times*. 1978-08-04. Retrieved 2012-11-03.

1. ["Host Nations and Representatives for the Asian Games"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120106045954/http://www.sportsmuseum.com.sg/olympism/asian_games/locations.html). Sports Museum of Singapore. Archived from [the original](http://www.sportsmuseum.com.sg/olympism/asian_games/locations.html) on 6 January 2012. Retrieved 2012-11-03.

1. ["Little night music with Pat Chan"](http://www.fridae.asia/newsfeatures/2004/03/22/30.little-night-music-with-pat-chan-march-26). *Fridae Asia*. 2004-03-22. Retrieved 2012-11-03.

1. ["陈国华"](http://finance.cctv.com/special/C19252/20070905/102411.shtml). *[China Central Television](/source/China_Central_Television)*. 2007-09-05. Retrieved 2012-11-03.

1. Govindram, Ranee (1975-06-15). ["Ex-swim star gets rare varsity honour; Harvard award for Dr. Chan's daughter Vicky"](http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19750615-1.2.6.aspx). *The Straits Times*. Retrieved 2012-11-01.

1. Toh Ting Wei (11 June 2014). ["Marina keeps Chan name flying"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140914181539/http://news.asiaone.com/news/sports/marina-keeps-chan-name-flying). *[The Straits Times](/source/The_Straits_Times)*. [Singapore](/source/Singapore): [Singapore Press Holdings](/source/Singapore_Press_Holdings). Archived from [the original](http://news.asiaone.com/news/sports/marina-keeps-chan-name-flying) on 14 September 2014. Retrieved 15 September 2014. – via [AsiaOne](/source/AsiaOne)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Pat Chan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pat_Chan) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pat_Chan?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.