Bold take: SEA Games 2025 proves Letitia Sim is redefining Southeast Asia’s breaststroke standard, and she did it by sealing a historic hat-trick in the 200m event.
BANGKOK — Singapore’s Letitia Sim reaffirmed her status as the region’s premier breaststroker by winning the women’s 200m breaststroke at the Huamark Aquatic Center, becoming the first swimmer to complete a SEA Games hat-trick in this stroke since the 50m event joined the program in 2011. After podium finishes in 2022 and 2023 (second in the 50m and 200m, respectively), the 22-year-old surged forward in Bangkok, powering to a Games record time of 2:27.37 to claim the gold and add to her 50m and 100m titles.
Thailand’s Pimchanok Chinveera finished second in 2:31.50, with Indonesia’s Adellia close behind in 2:32.50. Sim’s victory came on the heels of another standout performance, as she also retained the women’s 200m individual medley title, clocking a Games and national record of 2:13.42 on December 11.
In the same session, Teong Tzen Wei reclaimed the men’s 50m butterfly crown with a time of 23.24 seconds, helping Singapore extend its streak in this event since its 2011 inclusion. Quah Zheng Wen finished second in 23.57, while the Philippines’ Logan Noguchi took bronze in 23.97.
Earlier, Singapore’s Amanda Lim claimed the women’s 50m freestyle title, marking her seventh SEA Games win in this event and the first since 2019 after podium finishes in 2022 and 2023. She posted a Games record 25.03 seconds, finishing ahead of Kayla Sanchez (25.15) of the Philippines (Filipino-Canadian) and Heather White (25.38); Quah Ting Wen was fourth in 25.42.
In the men’s 200m breaststroke, Vietnam’s defending champion Pham Thanh Bao retained his title with a standout 2:12.81, ahead of Singapore’s Chan Chun Ho (2:14.82) and Maximillian Ang (2:15.56).
With these results, Singapore remains poised as favorites to extend dominance in the women’s 4x200m freestyle and men’s 4x100m freestyle relays.
— David Lee, senior sports correspondent at The Straits Times, covering aquatics, badminton, basketball, cue sports, football and table tennis.
