Former Singapore sprinter, Olympian, and SEAP (now known as SEA Games) champion, died in a road accident on Saturday morning. He was 82.

It is believed Tan Eng Yoon was hit by a car while crossing Upper Thomson Road on his way back from the Church of the Holy Spirit.

Former Singapore sprinter Tan Eng Yoon died in a road accident on Saturday morning. He was 82.

Mr Tan had just attended the morning 6.30am mass at the Church of the Holy Spirit, and was on his walk back to his home along Soo Chow View, when he got knocked down while crossing the road.

A 33-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the case.

Tan Eng Yoon was taken to Tan Tock Seng Hospital, where he died at 9.50am.

That stretch of busy road has been known to be accident prone, and it claimed the life of Singapore’s most iconic sportsman and sports administrator.

Tan turn sprinter-to-coach in the 1960s and 1970s, nurtured athletes like sprint king C Kunalan, seen here

Tan Eng Yoon contribution to Singapore Athletics was countless.

From helping to oversee the National Stadium’s construction as a sports administrator, to his feats on the track and field.

Talented across many discipline, Mr Tan represented the Republic at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics in the triple jump, and the blue ribbon 100m sprint event.

Three years later, in 1959 edition of the South-East Asian Peninsular Games, he struck gold in the 400m hurdles.

The late Tan Eng Yoon seen here at the Wings Athletic Club Sports 2008 seminar, still active even in his twilight years, as an invited guest speaker, shaping young minds still

When his heroic feats on the track and field was past his prime, wanting to leave an ever lasting legacy to the sport he loves, Mr Tan turned to coaching.

In the 60′s and 70′s he was in-charge, involved and part of Singapore Athletics golden years, nurturing the likes of sprint king C Kunalan and Glory Barnabas, to high jumper Nor Azhar Hamid.

Tan Eng Yoon was recently elected by his peers as the first President of the newly setup Singapore Olympians Association.

Mr Tan is survived by his wife Evelyn, 68, sons Eugene, 45, and Kenneth, 42, and daughter Sabrina, 39.

It is a sad day for Singapore Athletics indeed, and we wish to send our condolences on the loss of such a wonderful person.