PHNOM PENH – On Shanti Pereira’s left inner arm is a freshly minted tattoo of a sparrow, ink that reflects a sprinter who is “feeling free”.

She had it done in Singapore after returning from the Australian championships in Brisbane.

Once weighed down by pressure and expectation, she has soared at the Cambodia SEA Games.

And on Friday, she claimed gold in the women’s 100m to become the first Singaporean woman to complete the sprint double at the biennial event.

Four days after winning her third 200m title, with confidence coursing through her veins, Pereira recovered from a slow start to power past her rivals and clinch gold in 11.41 seconds.

Her delight was evident as the 26-year-old raised her right arm in celebration as she crossed the finishing line.

Thailand’s Supanich Poolkerd (11.58sec) and Tran Thi Nhi Yen of Vietnam (11.75sec) finished second and third respectively.

It was Pereira’s first 100m title at the SEA Games after finishing third in 2015, 2017 and 2019, before winning a silver at the 2022 edition in Hanoi. The region’s fastest woman now has four gold medals from the biennial event.

When asked if a free mindset had been the reason behind her success, Pereira said: “For sure. Just not caring about what other people are doing, what other people are saying.”

Pointing to the sparrow on her arm, she said: “That’s why I got this tattoo. (I am) feeling free.”

Pereira has been candid about the mental challenges she has had to endure in her running journey, particularly when she felt stagnant at times and dealt with defeat – she did not retain her 200m title at the 2017 Games.

A lightning bolt tattoo on her left Achilles heel in July 2020 was her first, representing her relationship with track and field. The Olympic rings near her right wrist were to remind her of the challenges she faced when competing at Tokyo 2020 and another tattoo on her left torso features four symbols which are a nod to perseverance and grit.

And it is that relentless spirit that has kept her going since winning her first 200m gold in 2015. After close to a decade of ups and downs, she is now flying.

She started training full-time in January and has since had a record-breaking season.

Her monumental rise is not lost on her. When asked what her younger self in 2013, when she made her SEA Games debut, would have thought of her success, Pereira was candid in her response.

She said: “Wah, in 2013 I was just happy to be there. Back then I came in fourth for everything and I was super happy. Now I am just looking back and I am like wah. You can quote me w-a-h.”

History beckoned as she took to lane 5 in the 100m final at the Morodok Techo National Stadium on Friday and its significance was on her mind.

She said: “Not going to lie, it was. Just facts lah, my timing coming into the Games and the winning time at the past editions. That was something I definitely thought about, but at the end of the day, you never really know what is going to happen.”

She will now shift her focus to the July 12-16 Asian Athletics Championships in Thailand and the Hangzhou Asian Games from Sept 23 to Oct 8.

For now, a celebration with her family – who were in Phnom Penh to cheer her on – awaits when she returns to Singapore on Saturday.

Visibly emotional and fighting back tears, she added: “I want to hug my coach (Luis Cunha). We made history today. It’s a pretty great moment.”

In the men’s 100m final, Marc Louis won Singapore’s first silver medal in over a decade – Gary Yeo was second in the event at the 2011 Games.

Louis’ time of 10.39sec was just 0.02sec behind Soraoat Dapbang of Thailand, who came from behind to claim top spot. The close finish led to a protest being lodged by Singapore Athletics officials, which proved unsuccessful.

Malaysia’s Muhammad Haiqal Hanafi and Khairul Hafiz Jantan shared the bronze after clocking 10.45sec.

While Louis did not win gold, his time was just 0.02sec off U.K. Shyam’s national record from the 2001 Kuala Lumpur Games.

The 20-year-old said: “Honestly I am happy but I thought I got the gold medal today. Since last year I got a bronze, and this time is a silver, so maybe next one will be a gold.”

The men’s 4x400m relay quartet of Ng Chin Hui, Zubin Muncherji, Calvin Quek and Thiruben Thana Rajan finished last but set a new national record of 3:10.11, beating the 3:10.55 mark from the 1974 Asian Games.

Singapore’s track and field team ended their campaign with 10 medals – three golds, two silvers and five bronzes – in an improved performance from 2022, when they won one gold, three silvers and seven bronzes.