Mavis Ee won successive Sportsgirl of the Year awards -- in 1980 and then again in 1981. She also had the honour of winning the Sportswoman of the Year, in 1981.

The swimming prodigy had an early start -- at eight years of age ('74) she was already training under Coach Kee Soon Bee and started representing the Republic since 1976, when she was just 10 years old. Two years later, the 12 year-old competed at the 1978 Asian Games (Bangkok).

Her selection for the 1980 Sportsgirl award was a result of her string of achievements for that year. These included three golds and a bronze medal at 7th Sanya Samakki Cup meet in Jakarta (she also won the Outstanding Performance Award for breaking the 100 metres butterfly record). At the 4th South East Asia Age Group meet in Chiengmai, she also hauled two golds, one silver and two bronzes, establishing a new record for the 100 metre butterfly.

Likewise, Mavis' performances in 1981 led to her successive selection for the Sportsgirl of the Year. She also clinched the Sportswoman of the Year award.

Mavis' successes in '81 included being awarded the Outstanding Performance Award for her record-breaking feat in the 100 metres butterfly at the 8th Sanya Samakki Cup meet and coming away with a haul of six gold medals, breaking four meet, one national and one SEA Games record.

Prior to the Sanya Samakki meet she had won 2 silvers and 3 bronze medals at the 1981 SEA Games in Manila and one gold, 3 silvers and a bronze at the Singapore/People's Republic of China Swimming Meet.

In the annals of local sport, Mavis' achievements put her amongst the ranks of Singapore's select few outstanding athletes.