SEA Games 2025: Swimmers set 3 Meet Records en route to 4 more golds

Singapore's men's 4x100m freestyle quartet of Quah Zheng Wen, Mikkel Lee, Jonathan Tan and Ardi Zulhilmi clocked a new Meet Record of 3:16.65. Photo: SportSG/Andy Chua

If there had been any doubt about Team Singapore swimmers’ showing at the 33rd SEA Games, the squad used the penultimate day of racing to give their response. 

The team clinched four golds, two silvers and a bronze on Dec 14, setting three Meet Records in the process. 

One of them came courtesy of Amanda Lim, who marked her 10th and final SEA Games by reclaiming her crown in the women’s 50m freestyle. 

For more than a decade, Lim has made the biennial Games her happy hunting ground, claiming successive titles in the 50m freestyle at six straight editions since 2009. 

After two silvers, weeks before she turns 33 and just as the doubters grow louder, she showed the region she still is South-east Asia’s fastest freestylist. 

Amanda Lim's latest gold medal in the women's 50m freestyle is her seventh overall at the SEA Games. Photo: SportSG/Andy Chua

She did it in commanding style too, winning gold in a Meet Record of 23.03 seconds as she announced this would be her swansong SEA Games.  

Lim topped a strong field that included the likes of Olympic medallist Kayla Noelle Sanchez of the Philippines, who was second in 23.15sec. Fellow Filipina Heather White took bronze in 25.38sec. 

Said Lim: “I lost the last two SEA Games, and the 50m free means a lot to me. It’s my 10th SEA Games, it’s my last SEA Games, and that was my last 50 free at the SEA Games, so it’s like a full circle moment for me.

“In a way, it’s like leaving a legacy. Telling South-east Asia that it’s still us, it’s still Singapore.” 

Lim, who suffered the loss of her father two months ago, added: “I just hope that my dad is proud of me. I hope he’s happy.” 

Meanwhile, Letitia Sim is making a strong case for MVP after delivering another Meet Record – this time, swimming 2min 27.37sec in the women’s 200m breaststroke. It is her fourth gold and fourth meet record of the Thailand Games.  

Even as she made it look easy, the 22-year-old assured it was anything but. 

Letitia Sim has now won four gold medals at the 33rd SEA Games, all in Meet Record time. Photo: SportSG/Andy Chua

She said: “The 200 is a lot more challenging mentally. Just really anxious going into the call room and knowing that it’s going to hurt. I was pushing more than I expected and it hurt a lot. I was so tired after that. And also the accumulation of the meet thus far has taken a toll on my body.”

Beyond her gold medals, Sim is taking away the growth she has seen in herself. 

She said: “This meet, overall, showed the progress that I've made throughout the past two SEA Games. It was a lot of mental challenges, being able to push myself hard against everyone and stay ahead of the pack. I knew if I started to have my doubts, it would take a toll on my performance.

“I’m really proud of how this meet has gone so far. The past two SEA Games, it didn’t really come together and it did here.”

Mikkel Lee (far left) has now won three gold medals at the 33rd SEA Games. Photo: SportSG/Andy Chua

Singapore’s third Meet Record of the night came from the men’s 4x100m freestyle relay, when the quartet of Ardi Zulhilmi, Jonathan Tan, Mikkel Lee and Quah Zheng Wen swam 3:16.65. 

In the men’s 50m fly, Teong Tzen Wei also reclaimed his crown, touching the wall first in 23.24sec. He finished ahead of team-mate Quah Zheng Wen, who posted 23.57sec. 

Teong Tzen Wei reclaims his title in the men's 50m butterfly. Photo: SportSG/Andy Chua

Said Teong: “It’s been years since I last stood on the gold medal podium at the SEA Games for an individual event. I’m pleased with my result… I’ll live in the moment now. Tomorrow, it’s back to how I can represent Singapore and swim a better time.” 

In the men’s 200m breaststroke, Chan Chun Ho clocked 2:14.82 to take silver, followed by teammate Maximillian Ang in 2:15.56 with bronze. 

The women's 4x200m freestyle relay quartet of Gan Ching Hwee, Victoria Lim, Ashley Lim and Quah Jing Wen finished fourth with a time of 8:14.76. Gan's split of 1:59.10 is also a new Meet Record. 

Swimmers will wrap up their campaign on Dec 15. 

The 33rd SEA Games are held in Thailand from 9 to 20 December 2025. For the latest Team Singapore coverage and news, follow Team Singapore on their social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok) or visit the official Team Singapore website.