‘It is just special’: Singapore’s Gan Ching Hwee smashes 15-year national record at World Aquatics Championships

SINGAPORE: Days after celebrating her 22nd birthday, there were more reasons for cheer for Singapore’s Gan Ching Hwee as she smashed a 15-year national record on home soil at the World Aquatics Championships.

Gan, who is the current national record holder in the 800m and 1500m freestyle events, clocked a time of 4:09.81 in the women’s 400m freestyle on Sunday (Jul 27).

This eclipses Lynette Lim’s national mark of 4:11.24, set at the December 2009 SEA Games.

She had come into the event with an entry time of 4:12.31.

Gan finished first in her heat and finished 13th overall. United States’ Katie Ledecky topped the four heats with a time of 4:01.04.