Paris 2024: Records and milestones for Singapore's Olympic swimmers

By Patrick Johnston

Two national records and a relay team qualifying for an Olympic event for the first time - it was quite a Paris Games for Singapore’s swimmers.

Gan Ching Hwee proved the standout performer of the five swimmers who made their Olympics debuts at the Paris La Defense arena over the last week.

Ching Hwee began by shaving almost half a second off the 1500m freestyle record she had only set in June, just missing out on the final of swimming’s marathon event by 1.5 seconds.

Gan Ching Hwee leaps from the blocks at the start of her women's 800 metre freestyle heats at the Paris Olympics.  Photo: Sport Singapore/Andy Chua

Buoyed by the 16 min 10.13 seconds swim, she followed that up with another national record in the 800m freestyle at the Paris La Defense arena. This time improving the national record by almost two seconds with a time of 8 minutes 32.37 seconds that left her 11th overall out of 16 swimmers.

“The past few days have been quite emotional, being so happy from my best time,” Ching Hwee said.

The 21-year-old then teamed up with Quah Jing Wen and sisters Letitia and Levenia Sim as the quartet became Singapore's first women's swim relay team to compete in an Olympic Games.

The four women clocked a time of 4:05.58 to finish seventh in their 4x100m medley relay heat, and 14th overall. 

Quah Jing Wen swims the butterfly leg of the during the women's 4x100m medley heat at the Paris Olympics.  Photo: Sport Singapore/Andy Chua

"It's a historical event for us, that's what our coaches said right before we went off. And it was just kind of different hearing that," said Letitia. "I just didn't realise it until he said it.

"Overall, I'm really proud and just excited for what's ahead of us and Team Singapore.”

Letitia also swam in the women’s 100m and 200m breaststroke heats, finishing 25th and 22nd overall respectively.

The 10-times SEA Games medallist took great heart from her debut Olympic experience as she heads back to the U.S. to complete her studies.

“I learned a lot from the environment, the crowd, my races, the pool, and overall just my mindset – how I should be handling myself throughout the races,” she said.

Singapore’s solo male swimming representative in Paris was Jonathan Tan, who won four golds and a silver at the last SEA Games. He raced in the men’s 50m and 100m freestyle sprints in Paris, finishing 32nd and 38th overall.

Jonathan Tan leaps from the blocks to start his men's 100m freestyle heat at the Paris Olympics.  Photo: Sport Singapore/Andy Chua

Tan said competing at an Olympics had been incredibly positive, and he was keen to take part at the Los Angeles Games in four years time.

“Basically, racing in this atmosphere and environment where everyone’s so loud, everyone’s fast,” he said of his Games highlight.

“It’s been a good experience…there’s a lot of things for me to learn from and hopefully I can come back stronger for the next one.”

The Paris 2024 Olympic Games takes place in Paris, France from 26 July to 11 August 2024. For the latest Team Singapore coverage and news, follow Team Singapore on their social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok) or visit the official Team Singapore website.