Maldivian swimmers delivered an impressive performance at the 22nd World Aquatics Championships 2025 held in Singapore, setting a total of eight new national records and reinforcing the nation’s growing presence in international aquatic sports.
Representing the Maldives at this prestigious global tournament, the team showcased their athletic progression across both individual and relay events. The championships, which took place from July 11 to 20 in Singapore, brought together top swimmers from around the world, providing a competitive platform for emerging athletes from smaller nations like the Maldives to test their abilities against seasoned competitors.
One of the most notable achievements came from the mixed 4x100m freestyle relay team, consisting of Meral Ain Latheef, Amna Thazkiya Mirsad (Thazky), Mohamed Rihan Shiham, and Mohamed Aan Hussain. The team completed their heat in 4 minutes and 4.21 seconds, surpassing the previous national record of 4:12.35 set during the 11th Asian Age Group Aquatics Championships. The former record-holding team included Aan, along with Ali Imran, Aishath Ulya Shaiq, and Aishath Ainee Abdul Hameed.
Adding to their relay success, the same quartet also established a new national best in the 4x100m medley relay, recording a time of 4:40.23. This marked an 8.28-second improvement over the previous record a substantial leap that reflects the swimmers’ enhanced coordination, stamina, and training standards.
Each of the four swimmers also recorded personal bests that translated into national records in their respective individual categories.
Meral Ain Latheef set a new national benchmark in the women’s longcourse 200m individual medley with a time of 2:44.34. She also competed in the women’s 100m butterfly, finishing in 1:16.73. Although she did not surpass her current national record of 1:13.96 (set at the 19th National Swimming Championships in Singapore), her continued consistency in performance stands out.
Mohamed Rihan Shiham bettered his own national record in the men’s 200m butterfly by clocking 2:25.20. He also swam the 400m individual medley in 5:15.03, narrowly missing his previous national record of 5:14.03 set at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.
Mohamed Aan Hussain delivered strong performances in the sprint freestyle events, setting national records in both the men’s 100m and 50m freestyle. He finished the 100m freestyle in 53.80 seconds and the 50m freestyle in 23.81 seconds, establishing himself as a key competitor in short-distance events.
At just 14 years of age, Amna Thazkiya Mirsad (Thazky) emerged as one of the rising stars of the competition. She broke two national records in the women’s division — the 100m backstroke and 100m freestyle. Thazky completed the 100m backstroke in 1:13.49, beating the previous record held by Hamna Ahmed by over four seconds. In the 100m freestyle, she clocked 1:04.04, surpassing the earlier record set by Aishath Ulya Shaiq in 2024.
These record-breaking performances not only highlight the dedication and talent of Maldivian athletes but also reflect the growing effectiveness of structured training programs and international exposure for young swimmers. Participation in elite competitions like the World Aquatics Championships continues to be instrumental in raising the Maldives’ competitive standards in aquatic sports.
The achievements of the Maldivian swimmers serve as an inspiration to aspiring athletes back home and position the country as an emerging contender in the regional swimming arena. As the nation develops its sports infrastructure and supports youth development, such milestones bring global attention not only to Maldivian athletes but also to the Maldives as a destination that nurtures excellence both in sports and beyond.
advertisment
advertisment
