Every two years, the SEA Games come around. For athletes, it is a chance to test themselves against the region’s best. For fans back home, it is a familiar cycle of medal tallies, personal bests and the occasional national record.
At the 2025 SEA Games in Thailand (9 to 20 December), Singapore athletes delivered a strong showing, finishing with 52 gold, 61 silver and 89 bronze medals, for a total of 202 medals.
Beyond pride and recognition, there is also prize money involved. So how much do Singapore athletes actually earn when they stand on the podium?
The Cash Awards For SEA Games Gold Medals
Singapore athletes who win gold medals at the SEA Games receive cash awards under the Athlete Achievement Awards, administered by the Singapore National Olympic Council and sponsored by the Tote Board Group.
For individual events, the payout is straightforward. A gold medal earns $10,000. If the same athlete wins a second or third individual gold medal at the same SEA Games, each subsequent gold pays $5,000. This is capped at three gold medals, so the most an athlete can earn in individual sports is $20,000 per SEA Games.
For team events such as athletics relays or swimming relays, or doubles events in badminton, the gold medal award is $15,000. This amount is shared among the team members. This means that individuals who win three gold medals in the SEA Games can still earn additional prize money by winning the team relay. For example, Singapore swimmer Letitia Sim won 5 gold medals across her races, including 4individual golds and 1 relay gold.
For team sports like football, basketball and water polo, the gold medal award rises to $30,000, again split across the entire squad.
One important detail: unlike the Olympics, Asian Games, or Commonwealth Games, there is no cash award for silver or bronze medals at the SEA Games.
How SEA Games Rewards Compare With The Olympics
While $10,000 for a gold medal is a respectable sum, it is far from life-changing. The contrast becomes clear when compared to the Olympic Games.
Singapore Olympic medallists receive $1 million for gold, $500,000 for silver, and $250,000 for bronze. The prize pool is far larger, but so is the difficulty. Winning an Olympic medal as a Singaporean athlete is obviously much harder than winning a medal at the regional level.
It is also worth noting that all prize money is taxable, and athletes are required to contribute a portion of their winnings to their National Sports Association to support future training and development. This is 20% of the awards for the SEA, Asian and Olympic Games, and 50% of the MAP awards for the Commonwealth Games.
Why Individual Athletes Often Benefit More
Athletes in individual sports tend to do better financially over time as there is no splitting of prize money, and standout performers often collect multiple medals across different events.
Swimmers, sprinters and singles players can see their SEA Games prize money add up quickly, even if each individual award is modest.
Joseph Schooling is a good example. While his biggest financial rewards came from Olympic success and sponsorships, regional competitions like the SEA Games still contributed meaningfully when multiple medals, including relays, were involved.
The same applies to Veronica Shanti Pereira, who won two gold medals (100m and 200m) at the 2025 SEA Games. She has also claimed the 200m gold at the 2015, 2021 and 2023 editions. Over time, these repeated wins add up, both financially and in terms of profile.
The Bigger Financial Picture For Athletes
Prize money is only one piece of an athlete’s income puzzle. Individual sports also translate more easily into endorsements. A single face, a clear story and repeated international exposure make sponsorship deals far more viable.
In that sense, the medals themselves can be priceless. They open doors to funding, sponsorships and career opportunities long after the podium ceremony ends.
For most athletes, SEA Games prize money is a welcome bonus rather than a financial windfall. The real value lies in what those medals can lead to next.
Read Also: How Much Would Joseph Schooling Be Getting For His Olympic Gold Medal
Photo Credit: Singapore National Olympic Council Facebook Page
