SINGAPORE — ASEAN Para Games (APG) swimming powerhouses Vietnam have topped the swimming medal tally at every edition of the Games except in 2003, as far as coach Le Thanh Huy can recall.

They are also leading once again at the halfway mark of this edition of the meet with 12 gold medals.

But instead of feeling confident of their chances of emerging top dogs again, the Viets are anxiously looking over their shoulder — at hosts Singapore, even though the Republic are currently joint-second with Indonesia and Thailand with nine gold medals after last night, with just two days of competition left.

Why are Vietnam feeling so antsy? “Because Singapore has Theresa Goh,” Le told TODAY. “She is getting better and better. Especially this year, I don’t know what has happened (that has made her improve so much).”

The answer is simple: Goh, 28, has rediscovered her competitive fire.

As Singapore’s most experienced para swimmer told TODAY last Friday, she has rekindled the lost “fire” in her swimming this year, something that had deserted her in the past couple of years.

Goh has been to all past seven editions of the APG and won 22 gold medals. Last night, she made it 26 when she won the 200m freestyle S5 event. It was her fourth gold medal in as many events.

She also did it in style, by smashing her old Games record. Her time of 3min 38.04sec was more than 13 seconds faster than the 3:51.38 she set last year.

“I don’t think we have ever been in second place at any stage of the swimming competition at the APG,” said Singapore’s team manager, Kang Tze Wei.

“I won’t rule out the possibility that we can be No 1 (by the end of the competition).”

This is because Goh has three more events left, while teammates Toh Wei Soong and Benson Tan — who are entered for nine events each at this APG — are also making waves in the pool. Toh — who won a 400m freestyle S8 silver yesterday — struck gold in the 100m free S8 on Friday while Tan won the 100m and 200m free S14 on Saturday.

There is another reason why Le is feeling apprehensive “Most of our best swimmers have finished their events so I think Singapore may have a good chance (to overtake us),” he said. ADELENE WONG