Although the table tennis player didn't return with a medal, it was a very happy homecoming for her on Tuesday. She was mobbed by over 150 fans on arrival at the Changi airport and a few hours later, her boyfriend - shuttler Ronald Susilo - asked her to marry him.
And the good news is she has said 'yes'.
No date has been set yet.
Jiawei's fans were at the airport more than two hours before her flight landed at about 5:50am. Jiawei had clearly won hearts after she came close to ending Singapore's over 40-year medal drought at the Olympics. Even the VIPs who had turned up to welcome Jiawei and a few other local athletes didn't expect the crowd.
Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Acting Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports, said: "Some of the school students had been here overnight. It just shows you how it captured the imagination and the pride of the country.This is an excellent reception."
Jiawei admitted the pressure of the nation's hopes on her cost her to lose her focus.
The Singapore Table Tennis Association admits that more exposure will help counter that problem. The association says it has set higher targets not only for Jiawei but also for all others in the team.
Amidst the celebrations, the stark reality remains that Singapore has not won an Olympic medal for 44 long years.
But with Jiawei still 23 and having two Olympics under her belt, she might just pull off at the next Olympic Games in Beijing in 2008.
"This time I made into the top four. In 2008, I'll be 27 and more mature and hope to win a medal for Singapore," said Jiawei.
