2025 Southeast Asian Games
- December 10-15, 2025
- Sport of Authority of Thailand Pool, Bangkok
- LCM (50m)
- Results
The biennial Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) kicked off earlier this week, and the first day of swimming saw a variety of countries reach the top of the podium.
In her debut Games performance, Filipina athlete Kayla Sanchez anchored the country to its first ever 4×100 freestyle relay gold at the meet. Formerly a representative of Canada, Sanchez threw down a 53.79 split to create a two-second gap between the archipelago nation and runner-up/defending champions Singapore. The Philippines’ final time stood at 3:44.26, a new national record by five one-hundredths of a second.
Joining Sanchez on the relay were Heather White, Xiandi Chua, and Chloe Kennedy Anne Isleta. Chua and Sanchez took part in the previous NR relay, set at the 2023 Asian Games.
Though Singapore lost its relay title, it gained a meet record thanks to Letitia Sim. The University of Michigan athlete cleared the final by nearly a half second in the 50 breast with a 31.03. It comes just a tenth short of the 22-year-old’s 30.92 Singaporean record.
Host country Thailand walked away with one gold on the first night of competition. Kamonchanok Kwanmuang, 20, had a thrilling 200 fly duel with Viet Thi My Tien Vo. The showdown saw Kwanmuang win in a 2:11.78, with her foe settling for silver in 2:12.10.
Singapore’s Mikkel Lee was a star on the men’s side of the first day. He gave Olympic Gold Medalist Joseph Schooling’s 100 free meet record a proper scare, winning in 48.65 to just miss Schooling’s 48.58 benchmark. It was his first registered outing under 49 seconds.
Vietnam’s Hung Tran Nguyen four-peated in the 200 IM, this time clocking a 2:02.11 to win.
Southeast Asia’s largest nation, Indonesia, earned itself a 1-2 punch in the men’s 100 backstroke. The 18-year-old Jason Donovan Yusuf touched first in 55.08 for his nation, trailed by his teammate Farrel Armandio Tangkas (55.89).
Why did she defect. Cost the Canadian relay team.
Mikkel was an absolute beast!!
ZW could have done 55 flat in his sleep to win the 100 back gold but i guess age is really catching up
Ray Looze created a monster
1) 46.7 split as an 18 year old high school senior in the LCM big pool before IU
2) Ray doesn’t coach the sprinters, John Long does
3) he’s been nowhere near his LCM times in SCY
I think this is Kayla’s 1st SEA Games?
Wikipedia says the old record was 23 Asian Games in China (who does not participate in SEA Games)? But Asian Games are every 4 years in between Summer Olympics
2022 Asian Games postponed to 2023
She last competed for Canada during World Championship 2022 (June 2022). Meanwhile, SEA Games 2023 was held on May 2023, which was during her 1 year cooling off period for changing the country she is competing for.
I dont thnk she competed 2023 SEA Games. This (2025) SEA Games is her 1st.
My point is the record broken was from 23 Asian Games. (Article updated!)
110 million plus population and we choose a Canadian?
I don’t think you chose it, like most countries, she earned it through past performances.
Both of her parents are Filipino and she was born in Singapore, like many Filipinos who have emigrated to seek a better life. What is wrong with you?