Gan Ching Hwee

Singaporean swimmer (born 2003)

Gan Ching Hwee
Personal information
Born (2003-07-22) 22 July 2003 (age 21)
Singapore
Sport
SportSwimming
StrokesIndividual medley, freestyle
College teamIndiana University
Medal record
Women's swimming
Event 1st 2nd 3rd
Southeast Asian Games 11 1 1
Total 11 1 1
Southeast Asian Games
Gold medal – first place 2019 Philippines 800 m freestyle
Gold medal – first place 2019 Philippines 4×200 m freestyle
Gold medal – first place 2021 Vietnam 200 m freestyle
Gold medal – first place 2021 Vietnam 400 m freestyle
Gold medal – first place 2021 Vietnam 800 m freestyle
Gold medal – first place 2021 Vietnam 1500 m freestyle
Gold medal – first place 2021 Vietnam 4×200 m freestyle
Gold medal – first place 2023 Cambodia 200 m freestyle
Gold medal – first place 2023 Cambodia 400 m freestyle
Gold medal – first place 2023 Cambodia 800 m freestyle
Gold medal – first place 2023 Cambodia 4×200 m freestyle
Silver medal – second place 2019 Philippines 400 m freestyle
Bronze medal – third place 2017 Kuala Lumpur 400 m medley

Gan Ching Hwee (Chinese: 顏欣慧; pinyin: Yán Xīnhuì;[1] born 22 July 2003) is a Singaporean swimmer.[2]

Education

Gan studied at Tao Nan School, Methodists Girls' School and Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) in Singapore.[3] She is currently studying nutrition science at Indiana University, United States.[3]

Swimming career

Gan competed in the women's 1500 metre freestyle at the 2019 World Aquatics Championships.[4] She won the women's 800m freestyle in the Liberty Insurance 50th Singapore National Age Group Swimming Championships and broke her own U-17 national record at 8:42.23.[2]

In 2021, Gan failed to qualify for the 2020 Summer Olympics held in Tokyo, Japan but was invited by FINA to participate in the Olympic Games.[5] Based on Singapore Swimming Association's (SSA) selection policy, Gan was selected for the Olympics.[5] As Gan was selected, Quah Ting Wen missed out on going to Olympics.[5] Quah appealed to the SSA appeals committee that based on FINA's priority order, she should be chosen over Gan and was successful.[5] As a result, Gan was not selected for the 2020 Olympic Games.[5]

On 4 July 2024, World Aquatics (Aqua) (formerly FINA) confirmed that Singapore can send a women’s 4x100m medley relay team to the 2024 Summer Olympics held at Paris, France.[5] As the team consisted of three relay-only swimmers, which exceeded Aqua's maximum of two, Singapore Aquatics (SAQ) (formerly SSA) was given special dispensation by Aqua to send the team.[5] This team consisted of Quah Ting Wen, Quah Jing Wen, Letitia Sim and Levenia Sim.[5] On 5 July, Gan received an invitation again by Aqua for the women’s 1500m freestyle event at the Olympics Games.[5]

As Gan received an invitation, Singapore would not need special dispensation to send the medley relay team as Gan could replace Quah Ting Wen for her freestyle leg, within Aqua's rules of maximum two relay-only swimmers.[5] Gan was selected over Quah and Quah lodged an appeal with SAQ.[5] After two separate appeals by Quah rejected by SAQ, Gan was confirmed of her spot at the Olympics Games on 8 July.[6]

On her Olympics debut at the 2024 Summer Olympics women's 1500 metre freestyle event, Gan broke the national record at 16:10:13 during the heats, but missed out on progressing to the finals by 1 spot.[7] In the women's 800 metre freestyle event, she also broke the national record at 8:32:37 during the heats, placing her 11th and did not progress to the finals.[8]

References

  1. ^ "我国女子400米自由泳 颜欣慧林乙暄包揽金银". 8视界新闻网. Mediacorp. 8 May 2023. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Swimming: Glen Lim, Gan Ching Hwee rewrite records at S'pore National Age-Group Swimming Championships". Straits Times. 19 March 2019. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  3. ^ a b Min, Kooi Xiu (29 May 2022). "Gold medals, perfect IB score: How to raise a child like Gan Ching Hwee". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  4. ^ "18th FINA World Championships 2019: Women's 1500m Freestyle start list" (PDF). FINA. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 July 2019. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Lee, David (6 July 2024). "Gan Ching Hwee in, Quah Ting Wen out in Olympic swimming selection twist". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  6. ^ Ong, Guang-Xi Justin (9 July 2024). "'Hardest setback in my career': Quah Ting Wen on her shock omission from Olympic team". CNA. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  7. ^ Kwek, Kimberly. "S'pore's Gan Ching Hwee breaks women's 1,500m free national record on Olympic debut". The Straits Times.
  8. ^ Mohan, Matthew (2 August 2024). "Singapore swimmer Gan Ching Hwee clocks second national record at Paris Olympics". CNA. Retrieved 15 August 2024.