Ting approached the 100m butterfly final with familiar confidence, aiming to reclaim a title she last won in 2019—a rare gap in her otherwise extensive list of achievements.
Ting trailed her younger sister, Quah Jing Wen, through the opening 50 meters. However, a powerful finishing sprint saw the veteran claw back to touch the wall in 59.76 seconds, snatching the gold by a razor-thin 0.01 seconds.
Thailand’s Napatsawan claimed the bronze with a time of 1:01.57.
The Quah sisters glanced back together at the scoreboard. Ting then changed lanes and embraced her sister Jing tightly.
Stepping onto the podium, Ting held tightly to her sister's hand. While the elder Quah remained strong and composed, Jing was visibly overcome with emotion. The tears came after a difficult meet for the younger sibling, who had broken down earlier following a disappointing bronze-medal finish in her signature 200m butterfly event.
As the announcer called out the champion’s name, Ting stepped onto the top podium, raising both arms to greet the crowd. This victory marked a staggering milestone: it was the 35th time she has stood on the highest step across 10 SEA Games appearances, continuing a legacy that began with her debut at the 2005 Games in the Philippines.
In addition to her 35 golds, Quah Ting Wen has amassed 22 silver and 6 bronze medals. This haul officially makes her the most decorated athlete in SEA Games history, surpassing the previous benchmark of 62 medals held by fellow Singaporean swimming legend Joscelin Yeo.
While Ting now holds the overall medal record, Yeo retains the title for the most gold medals at the Games with 40.
Commenting on the milestone, the Singapore Swimming Association released a statement celebrating the historic moment:
"This is truly an extraordinary achievement and a powerful testament to consistency at the highest level. On this occasion, we also honor Joscelin Yeo, whose long-standing record inspired generations of swimmers. From the first pioneer to the passing of the torch, this reflects the depth, legacy, and enduring strength of Singapore swimming."
The family celebration continued immediately as Quah Zheng Wen took to the pool for the men's 100m butterfly. Mirroring his sister's success, the 29-year-old, the middle sibling, demonstrated his class by storming to gold in 52.25 seconds, finishing a commanding 0.89 seconds ahead of Indonesia's Joe Aditya.
Since bursting onto the scene at the 2011 SEA Games, Quah Zheng Wen has amassed a staggering haul of 34 gold, 14 silver, and 6 bronze medals.
Meanwhile, youngest sibling Quah Jing Wen, aged 25, has contributed 20 gold, 3 silver, and 3 bronze medals to the family vault.
Combined, the Quah trio has amassed a staggering total of 89 gold, 39 silver, and 15 bronze medals, rewriting the history books with 12 SEA Games records along the way.
