S'pore swimmer Quah Jing Wen in tears after coming in 3rd in 200m butterfly at SEA Games

Singapore swimmer Quah Jing Wen broke down after she placed third in the 200m women's butterfly finals at the 2025 Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games).

On Dec. 10 in Thailand, she came in third with a timing of 2:13.88, behind Thailand and Vietnam.

Speaking to the media after the event, Quah said, through tears, that after a race that went "this badly" and with so many expectations, she does not try to control herself, as this is just "how it feels".

"To give your entire life to something and not have it paid back, even though you think you deserve it. It's just sports, and it's just really hard," she admitted.

This event also holds a special place in Quah's heart, as she won her first-ever SEA Games gold medal in it back in 2017.

"This event is very special to me. It was my first SEA Games gold and ever since then, I've been chasing a certain high that I just can't seem to reach for this event."

@channelnewsasia Heartbreak for Singapore's Quah Jing Wen, who finished third in the 200m butterfly at #SEAGames2025, after having owned the crown since the 2017 Games. "This event is very special to me. It was my first SEA Games gold and ever since then I've been chasing a certain high that I just can't seem to reach for this event", said Jing Wen, who was in tears. "This is just how it feels, to give your entire life to something and not have it paid back, even though you think you deserve it. It's just sports and it's just really hard." #SEAGames2025 #mediacorpSEAGames2025 #Thailand2025 Catch the #33rdSEAGames ♬ original sound - CNA

Quah added that this is just the reality of the sport, it is not just "glamour and glitz".

Medals for Singapore

As of Dec. 11, Singapore has raked in 15 medals at the 2025 SEA Games.

According to Team Singapore's medal tally, the team clinched five gold, four silver, and six bronze medals across badminton, canoeing, ju-jitsu, swimming, billiards and snooker, and taekwondo.

Top photos via 8World and  Sport Singapore/Andy Chua