Soh Rui Yong, 34, clears medical following 'abnormal' heart activity result, can compete in 2025 SEA Games

Soh Rui Yong, Singapore's fastest marathoner, has been cleared to compete in the upcoming December 2025 SEA Games in Thailand.

This comes days after he underwent a routine medical screening and was informed that he might not be cleared to compete in the upcoming games.

The uncertainty put the 34-year-old's bid for a 10,000m medal at the games from Dec. 9 to 20 in jeopardy, but now appeared to be a non-issue.

The Singapore Athletic Association confirmed with Mothership on Dec. 8 that Soh had been medically cleared to compete at the upcoming games.

"Following an irregular finding during his routine pre-Games screening last week, Soh was referred for a specialist cardiology assessment. The specialist conducted a full evaluation and concluded that Soh is fit to compete, with no cardiac concerns that would prevent him from racing," the association stated.

Abnormal heart activity

Soh's health screening at Changi General Hospital (CGH) yielded electrocardiogram (ECG) results that showed that his heart activity was “abnormal, with multiple premature ventricular complexes”, according to The Straits Times.

He needed "further cardiovascular evaluation" as a result.

Double win at marathon

Despite the health scare, Soh took part at the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon over the weekend, coming out with double championship titles and earning a combined cheque of S$15,000.

He won the 21km half marathon with a time of 1 hour 14 minutes and 58 seconds on Saturday (Dec. 6) and also the 42km marathon the next day with a time of 2 hours 46 minutes and 23 seconds.

Soh is set to represent Singapore in the men's 5,000m final on Dec. 13 and the 10,000m final on Dec. 16 in Thailand.

He previously got the silver medal in the men’s 10,000m event in Cambodia in 2023.

Top photos from Soh Rui Yong/Facebook