{"id":20586,"date":"2025-12-17T06:15:35","date_gmt":"2025-12-16T22:15:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=20586"},"modified":"2025-12-17T06:15:35","modified_gmt":"2025-12-16T22:15:35","slug":"sea-games-2025-spore-swimmer-julia-yeo-14-motivated-by-whirlwind-golden-debut","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=20586","title":{"rendered":"SEA Games 2025: S\u2019pore swimmer Julia Yeo, 14, motivated by whirlwind golden debut"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">SINGAPORE \u2013 <!-- -->The past 24 hours have been a blur for Singaporean swimmer Julia Yeo after her surprise appearance in the women\u2019s 4x100m medley relay final at the SEA Games. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The 14-year-old can barely recall the finer details of the night at the Huamark Aquatic Center in Bangkok on Dec 15.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">One moment, she was sitting in the stands, cheering on her teammates.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The next, she was told just 20 minutes before the final that she would be swimming the backstroke leg of the relay in place of Levenia Sim, who had suffered a shoulder injury during the warmup.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">What followed was a frantic scramble. She pulled on a swimsuit \u2013 not even her own \u2013 in barely two minutes, throwing on a friend\u2019s parka before heading to the pool.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Before she knew it, she had swum her leg of the relay.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The whirlwind substitution ended in gold, as Julia teamed up with Quah Ting Wen, Quah Jing Wen and Letitia Sim to clock a Games record 4min 05.79sec, retaining the title in an event that  Singapore have won since 2003.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Looking back on her campaign, the Singapore Sports School student said: \u201cThis was my first SEA Games and I missed a medal in the 200m back, so winning a gold medal is very special for me.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cThe next SEA Games, definitely win an\u00a0individual gold medal and hopefully I can break more records and personal bests as well.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"SEA Games 2025: 14-year-old Julia Yeo wins gold with teammates for 4x100m women\u2019s medley\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Pj9WsEs9IAc?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">She was speaking to the media at Changi Airport on Dec 16, when the swim team arrived home from Thailand, following their campaign that ended with\u00a019 golds, eight silvers and seven bronzes.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Julia had gone into the meet without setting any expectations in order not to put too much pressure on herself.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The approach paid off.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">In another highlight, she set a national record in the women\u2019s 200m backstroke, touching the wall in 2:16.51 to finish fourth and better Tao Li\u2019s 2009 mark of 2:17.12.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">She also set a personal best of 1:04.75 in the 100m back final.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Her maiden experience at the biennial Games has given her new-found confidence and the best birthday present as she turns 15 on Dec 27.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">She said: \u201cThis competition has definitely made me feel more confident in myself because I can do things independently and I can swim a 100m back without warming up.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cI know that I\u2019m mentally prepared and I trained very hard for this.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Another standout performer was Mikkel Lee, who clinched four golds, including in the men\u2019s 50m and 100m freestyle.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">For the 23-year-old, the meet taught him the importance of trusting himself, especially after battling doubts leading into the competition.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">A bad training session before flying to Thailand had dented his confidence, but the Indiana University undergraduate credited his support system for staying grounded.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">He also drew inspiration from his favourite English Premier League club Arsenal and the song Let It All Work Out by Lil Wayne, which was used in the video announcing Eberechi Eze\u2019s arrival at the club from Crystal Palace.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"landscape inline-media-wrapper\" data-testid=\"inline-media-test-id\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-col items-start relative w-fit\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 480px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/28fa230dbfe328a473cfe139a7a36171e100b97312fd0e5c8cf979c0188b9b37?w=480\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 720px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/28fa230dbfe328a473cfe139a7a36171e100b97312fd0e5c8cf979c0188b9b37?w=720\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 721px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/28fa230dbfe328a473cfe139a7a36171e100b97312fd0e5c8cf979c0188b9b37?w=900\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/28fa230dbfe328a473cfe139a7a36171e100b97312fd0e5c8cf979c0188b9b37\" alt=\"Mikkel Lee, returning to Singapore with four golds from the 2025 SEA Games, being welcomed with a banner held aloft by his older brother.\" class=\"aspect-landscape flex items-start shrink-0 object-cover landscape article-landscape mobile:w-auto tablet:w-auto\" data-testid=\"image-test-id\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/picture><\/div><figcaption class=\"mobile:mx-16 tablet:mx-00 flex flex-col gap-08 py-16 desktop:pb-24\">\n<p class=\"font-eyebrow-baseline-regular text-secondary\" data-testid=\"inline-media-caption-test-id\">Mikkel Lee being welcomed with a banner held aloft by his older brother.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-eyebrow-baseline-regular text-placeholder\" data-testid=\"inline-media-credit-test-id\">PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The turning point came when he earned a breakthrough in his first event  \u2013 the 100m freestyle \u2013 which he won with a personal best of 48.65 seconds.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">He said: \u201cI didn\u2019t have a time in mind and going 48.65 was when I made a big jump from 49.1 \u2013 I\u2019ve been there for the last 2\u00bd years.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cIt was about putting in the right steps and that day was the day that brought my confidence up for the meet.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Coming home carried special significance for veteran Ting Wen, who won three golds, one silver and one bronze to take her total tally at the SEA Games to 65.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">In the process, she surpassed compatriot Joscelin Yeo\u2019s previous record haul of 62 at the regional meet.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The 33-year-old said:\u00a0\u201cIt\u2019s always nice to come home to the home crowd, friends and family.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cThis one feels a bit different because I\u2019m not sure if this edition of the Games might be my last one and so I\u2019m just trying to be present.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cI\u2019m trying to take everything in. When you\u2019re younger and you\u2019re constantly looking up towards the next thing, sometimes I think we forget to appreciate everything.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cRight now, I\u2019m just trying to enjoy being here with my family and friends.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div data-testid=\"tags-test-id\">\n<p><button data-testid=\"button-test-id\" class=\"layer-one border-default border interactive-button text-primary disabled:layer-disabled hover:disabled:layer-disabled default\" aria-label=\"button for Swimming\"><span class=\"font-button-md-semibold\">Swimming<\/span><\/button><button data-testid=\"button-test-id\" class=\"layer-one border-default border interactive-button text-primary disabled:layer-disabled hover:disabled:layer-disabled default\" aria-label=\"button for SEA Games\"><span class=\"font-button-md-semibold\">SEA Games<\/span><\/button><button data-testid=\"button-test-id\" class=\"layer-one border-default border interactive-button text-primary disabled:layer-disabled hover:disabled:layer-disabled default\" aria-label=\"button for Singapore sports\"><span class=\"font-button-md-semibold\">Singapore sports<\/span><\/button><button data-testid=\"button-test-id\" class=\"layer-one border-default border interactive-button text-primary disabled:layer-disabled hover:disabled:layer-disabled default\" aria-label=\"button for Singapore athletes\"><span class=\"font-button-md-semibold\">Singapore athletes<\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/sport\/sea-games-2025-spore-swimmer-julia-yeo-14-motivated-by-whirlwind-golden-debut\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read Full Article At Source <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>SINGAPORE \u2013 The past 24 hours have been a blur for Singaporean swimmer Julia Yeo after her surprise appearance in the women\u2019s 4x100m medley relay&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":20588,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2611],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-20586","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-buzz-headlines","wpcat-2611-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20586","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=20586"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20586\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/20588"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=20586"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=20586"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=20586"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}