SEA Games 2025: Gan Ching Hwee’s triple-triple caps off Singapore’s five-gold haul in final day of swimming

BANGKOK – The scoreboard at the Huamark Aquatic Center malfunctioned during the women’s 800m freestyle final on Dec 15, but there was no doubt that Singapore’s Gan Ching Hwee had won it, with the body lengths between her and the rest of the field providing good measure.

When the results were finally beamed, the 22-year-old’s time read 8min 33.13 sec – a Games record – with Vietnam’s Vo Thi My Tien (8:49.02) and Thailand’s Kamonchanok Kwanmuang (8:52.17) behind her. Singapore’s other participant, Victoria Lim, 15, was sixth with a personal best of 9:08.73.

In the process, Gan became the first Singaporean to complete the 200m, 400m and 800m freestyle triple-triple at the SEA Games.

Malaysia’s Nurul Huda Abdullah was the only other athlete who had wins in the same events across three consecutive SEA Games, achieving the milestone from 1985 to 1989.

Singapore legend Junie Sng won all three events in 1977, 1981 and 1983, but finished second to Thailand’s Sirirat Changkasiri in the 200m final in 1979.

But there was no stopping Gan, who said: “The whole race I was trying to look to my coach and he was waving me on, so I thought something was wrong, like I was going too slow. I didn’t know I had a Games record until after I swam down, so that’s special too.

“To be able to complete the 2-4-8 is a special feeling, to complete a triple-triple is extra special, and it’s a testament to the work I’ve put in over the years.

“I think I’ve grown so much. I was just thinking when I first won the 800m gold (in 2019), being young, being the underdog. Over the years, that experience has helped me become the athlete I am today, and I’m very grateful for that.”

The Republic’s swimmers ended their campaign with 19 golds, eight silvers and seven bronzes, which matches the gold tally from 2017 but is their lowest in four editions.

Gan will now aim to achieve an even more unique feat as she travels to Pattaya on Dec 16 to prepare for the open water mixed relay finals on Dec 20.

She said: “I knew it was going to be an uphill challenge because every day my race distance is doubling. At the end of six days, I’m definitely tired, but I do have four days to regroup and rest up for the next race. Hopefully, we can make the podium, which would be very special for the people taking part in the relay.”

Teammate and debutant Chan Chun Ho also had a moment to remember when he won the men’s 50m breaststroke in a national record of 27.68sec to see off Malaysia’s Andrew Goh (27.96sec) and Indonesia’s 2023 world junior champion Felix Iberle (28.02sec). Another Singaporean, Maximillian Ang (28.32sec), was fifth.

Chan, 21, said: “It was so much fun to rip it in the 50. You don’t know what is going to happen. I was a little bit tired in the morning, but we were able to back it up in the afternoon. This first gold medal means a lot as it’s my first big-focus meet and I’m really happy.”

After a slow start to the Games, along with the rest of their teammates, the Quah siblings all won gold on the same day.

Older sister Ting Wen got the ball rolling when she clocked a Games record of 26.42sec to reclaim the women’s 50m butterfly gold she last won in 2019, ahead of Filipina Miranda Renner (26.93sec), Thailand’s Jenjira Srisa-Ard (26.96sec) and her younger sister Jing Wen (27.00sec).

The 33-year-old, who ended the meet with three golds, one silver and one bronze to take her SEA Games record tally to 65 medals, said: “My butterfly has actually been feeling better in this meet than my freestyle. Most races are painful, but when it feels good like this one, it’s a freaking fantastic feeling.”

Then, from Lane 1, their brother Zheng Wen also reclaimed the men’s 200m backstroke title the 29-year-old last won in 2019. He touched the wall in 2:00.62, ahead of Indonesia’s Farrel Tangkas (2:01.63) and Thai Tonnam Kanteemool (2:02.89). Singapore’s Zackery Tay (2:04.06) was fifth.

Zheng Wen, who won medals (four golds, three silvers and two bronzes) in all his nine events, said: “This win is definitely one of the most memorable and important to me because it’s been a very long and tough year after not making the Paris Olympics, and it feels like vindication and proof to myself for everything I worked for this year.”

“This morning, I did want to qualify on the outside because I knew I’ll be out much faster than most of the field and if they had someone to chase down the middle, it would have made it a little bit easier for them to have that extra boost. So I was trying to be that outside smoke, and thankfully it paid off,” he added.

After sweeping the first four finals on the last day of the swimming meet, Singapore did not make the podium in the men’s 200m butterfly and 400m freestyle, but ended the night in style as Julia Yeo, Letitia Sim, Jing Wen and Ting Wen won the women’s 4x100m medley in a Games record of 4:05.79.

There was drama about half an hour before the race as Levenia Sim, who was supposed to swim the opening backstroke leg, hurt her shoulder during the warm-up and the coaches had to scramble to activate Julia, who was in the stands cheering for her teammates.

Julia, who turns 15 on Dec 27 and clocked a personal best of 1:04.79 with gear that was not her own, said: “My coach asked if I had my stuff, and I didn’t bring anything. My heart literally dropped and I was so shocked and bogged down with panic. I don’t know how I pulled it off. I just swam the best I could.

“This was really special because this is my first medley relay with my seniors and my first SEA Games gold. I didn’t even warm up at all, it was a surprise, and I want to thank my wonderful teammates who encouraged me a lot to swim to the best of my abilities.”

Jing Wen, who has had an underwhelming meet by her standards, was also glad to end the Games on top of the podium.

The 24-year-old, who has one gold, two silvers and one bronze, said: “Seeing us touch first in a meet record reminded me this is why I love the sport so much. It gives me such low lows and such high highs. I just have to remember this feeling that I am doing this for my people and my teammates, I love this sport and it’s a part of my life.”

Letitia was the meet’s best performer with five golds, including the historic breaststroke sweep and the 200m individual medley win.

The 22-year-old said: “It’s not so much for me, but for Team Singapore. It shows to everyone that it’s possible, and I hope it impacts a lot of people and the younger generation back at home.”