BANGKOK – Singapore’s Quah Ting Wen etched her name into Southeast Asian sporting history on Saturday, clinching gold in the women’s 100m butterfly to become the most decorated athlete in SEA Games history with a staggering 63 medals.
The 33-year-old veteran outpaced her younger sister, Quah Jing Wen, by a razor-thin margin of 0.01 seconds, touching the wall in 59.76sec. Thailand’s Jaritkla Napatsawan claimed bronze in 1:01.57, rounding out the podium.Quah Ting Wen now surpasses her former teammate Joscelin Yeo, who held the previous record of 62 medals. Her collection spans 21 years, from her debut at the 2005 SEA Games in the Philippines to this triumph in Bangkok. It includes 35 golds, 22 silvers, and six bronzes, a testament to her enduring dominance in the pool.
Named one of two Best Athletes at the 2023 SEA Games after securing six golds and two silvers in Cambodia, Quah has navigated rising challenges in 2025. The Philippines’ enlistment of Filipino-Canadian Olympic medalist Kayla Sanchez has intensified competition, yet Quah’s resilience shines through. This milestone underscores Singapore’s swimming prowess amid regional rivalries, as the SEA Games continue to spotlight emerging talents and veteran legends.