Singaporean swimmer Quah Ting Wen has etched herself into SEA Games history as the most decorated athlete the tournament has ever seen. After clinching the women’s 100m butterfly title at the 33rd SEA Games in Thailand, she tallied her 35th gold medal, surpassing all previous records at the regional meet.
Ting entered the 100m fly final with the same confident rhythm that has defined her career, aiming to reclaim a crown she last won in 2019—a notable gap given her prolific success across events. She trailed her younger sister, Quah Jing Wen, through the opening lap, but unleashed a furious finish, touching first in 59.76 seconds and securing gold by a razor-thin 0.01 seconds.
Napatsawan of Thailand claimed bronze with a time of 1:01.57.
The sisters shared a brief, emotional moment when they looked up at the scoreboard together. Ting then switched lanes and embraced Jing in a tight hug.
On the podium, Ting held Jing’s hand as she stood tall. Jing, though proud, wore visible emotion after a challenging meet that had seen her falter earlier in her specialty, the 200m butterfly, finishing with bronze.
When the announcer proclaimed the champion, Ting raised both arms in triumph atop the podium. The moment underscored a landmark: her 35th SEA Games gold across ten appearances, dating back to her debut at the 2005 Manila Games.
In total, Ting’s medal haul stands at 35 golds, 22 silvers, and 6 bronzes, making her the most decorated athlete in SEA Games history. She surpassed Joscelin Yeo, a Singaporean swimming legend who previously held the record with 62 total medals.
However, Yeo remains the Games’ all-time gold leader with 40 golds.
Responding to the milestone, the Singapore Swimming Association issued a statement praising the achievement as a testament to consistent excellence at the highest level. The federation also paid tribute to Yeo, noting how her enduring legacy has inspired generations of swimmers and helped shape the progression of Singaporean swimming—from the sport’s early pioneers to the present torchbearers.
Celebrations within the Quah family continued as Quah Zheng Wen lined up for the men’s 100m butterfly. The 29-year-old middle sibling carried the family’s momentum forward, sprinting to gold in 52.25 seconds, 0.89 seconds ahead of Indonesia’s Joe Aditya.
Since making his SEA Games debut in 2011, Zheng Wen has accumulated an impressive tally: 34 golds, 14 silvers, and 6 bronzes.
Meanwhile, youngest sister Jing Wen, now 25, has contributed 20 golds, 3 silvers, and 3 bronzes to the family collection. Together, the Quah siblings have racked up 89 golds, 39 silvers, and 15 bronzes, setting SEA Games records along the way and adding 12 individual SEA Games records to their names.
