Singapore gave Joseph Schooling S$1 million for his heroic Olympic Gold medal haul at Rio 2016 Olympic Games recently.

So, how much will the current Paralympic Games swimmers -- gold medallist Yip Pin Xiu and bronze medallist Theresa Goh -- get?

No one knows for sure yet because the Singapore National Paralympic Council (SNPC) website does not list the amount, unlike the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC) that lists the Multi-Million Dollar Awards Programme (MAP) for Olympians.

But it appears there is room for negotiations and pushing the amount of reward upwards in this coming week as it has not been set in stone. Yet.

Explanation via Today:

It is not known how much Singapore’s para-athletes will be getting for their medal wins at Rio as the SNPC’s website does not indicate the amounts.

However, while SNPC officials were not available for comment, TODAY understands that the national body will announce how much each medal will be worth after Team Singapore’s para-athletes return from Rio.

This is probably good news because a precedent has already been set. And there is reason for this wait-and-see approach.

In 2008, reward doubled after public outcry

Previously, when Yip won her first gold medal in the 2008 Beijing Paralympics for the 50m backstroke S3, it was announced she would received S$100,000.

A public outcry ensued as the amount was deemed too little.

Her reward was then doubled to S$200,000.

As a result, under the SNPC Athlete’s Achievement Award Programme (AAAP), which is partly funded by the Tote Board and Singapore Pools, athletes are now assured at least S$200,000 for a gold, S$100,000 for a silver and S$50,000 for a bronze.

At the 2012 London Games, equestrian rider Laurentia Tan was rewarded S$150,000 in total after she won a silver (S$100,000) and a bronze (S$50,000) in her individual events.

Four years on with Schooling's success in full glory and Singaporeans championing a more equitable society with egalitarian outcomes, Paralympic success looks set to pay greater dividends.

But what will be unprecedented this Paralympic Games is the possibility of having a double-gold medal para-athlete.

This is because Yip is the gold-medal favourite in Friday’s 50m backstroke S2 after setting a new world and Paralympic record during the first 50m leg of her 100m backstroke S2 final where she won gold.

Moreover, Goh is also a medal prospect in the 100m breaststroke SB4 having already won bronze.

Regardless, for as long as the SNPC holds their cards close to their chest and not reveal the finalised monetary reward amount, it means the public can make themselves heard on behalf of the Paralympians.

And it is likely that the more the public outcry, the more the reward disbursed after this Rio 2016.

Related article:

Should Paralympians be on the same reward scheme as Olympians?

Top photo via Yip Pin Xiu Facebook

If you like what you read, follow us on Facebook and Twitter to get the latest updates.