Gan Ching Hwee Wins SEA Games 400m Freestyle Gold as Singapore Shines in Bangkok

Gan Ching Hwee won the women’s 400m freestyle at the 2025 SEA Games in Bangkok. She won in 4:11.88 at the Huamark Aquatic Center. The win came on a busy December night for Singapore’s swim team.

The result pushed her closer to a rare triple‑triple sweep. It also kept Singapore in the lead on the medal table. According to Channel NewsAsia, her win marked her third straight title in this event.

Gan Ching Hwee Extends Lead in SEA Games Swimming

Gan led from the start and never slowed. She finished ahead of Thailand’s Kamonchanok Kwanmuang and Vietnam’s Vo Thi My Tien. Her strong pace showed why she has become one of the top distance swimmers in the region.

Reuters has noted that such streaks are uncommon in regional meets. Only Malaysia’s Nurul Huda Abdullah has done the triple‑triple in the 200m, 400m, and 800m freestyle. Gan now has two legs completed in 2025. The last test is the 800m freestyle.

Singapore’s team also celebrated a strong relay win. The men’s 4x100m medley relay squad took gold in 3:38.47. The group has now won this event seven times in a row. Their long run highlights the depth of Singapore’s swimming program.

Two young swimmers also broke national records. Fourteen‑year‑old Julia Yeo set a new women’s 200m backstroke record. Russel Pang, age 15, set a new mark in the men’s 1500m freestyle. Their results gave the team a boost and added excitement to the night.

How Gan’s Win Shapes Singapore’s SEA Games Push

The win helps Singapore stay on top of the swimming medal table. With seven gold medals in the first three days, the team shows steady form. This includes both veterans and new talents.

Gan said she faced some doubt after an earlier race. But she stayed focused and pushed through. According to reporting from The Straits Times, she drew strength from her coach and younger teammates.

The meet also brought shifts for other senior swimmers. Quah Ting Wen took bronze in the women’s 100m freestyle. Her long unbeaten streak in the event ended. It was a reminder of how fast the field is changing across Southeast Asia.

The 800m freestyle on December 15 now carries extra weight. Gan can join a very small group of swimmers with three sweeps in three Games. Her performance so far suggests she is on track. But the final race will decide her place in history.

Gan Ching Hwee’s SEA Games run shows skill, strength, and calm focus. Her next race will decide if she completes the triple‑triple and adds another major milestone to her career.

Info at your fingertips-

Q1: What time did Gan Ching Hwee swim in the 400m freestyle?

She finished in 4:11.88. It was her third straight SEA Games win in the event.

Q2: What is the triple‑triple in swimming?

It means winning the 200m, 400m, and 800m freestyle at three straight SEA Games. Only one swimmer has done this before.

Q3: Which Singapore swimmers broke national records?

Julia Yeo broke the women’s 200m backstroke record. Russel Pang set a new men’s 1500m freestyle record.

Q4: How did Singapore’s men’s medley relay team perform?

They won gold in 3:38.47. It was their seventh straight win in the event.

Q5: Where was the 2025 SEA Games swimming event held?

It took place at the Huamark Aquatic Center in Bangkok. All events were held there this year.

Trusted Sources: Channel NewsAsia, The Straits Times, Reuters