Singapore 1-2 Finish: How Ting Wen Quah Held Off Sister Jing Wen by 0.01 to Win Butterfly Gold

Photo Credit: CNA

The Women's 100m Butterfly final at the 2025 SEA Games delivered a composed, front-controlled performance — and it was Ting Wen Quah who executed best when it mattered most. Stopping the clock at 59.76, Quah secured gold for Singapore with a swim built on explosive starts, efficient stroke mechanics, and intelligent race management, adding another major SEA Games title to the nation's butterfly legacy.

Quah opened decisively, turning at the 50m mark in 27.79 — immediately taking command and forcing teammate Jing Wen Quah and the rest of the field into chase mode for the entire back 50.

On the return lap, as fatigue set in across the pool, Quah held her form and rhythm, closing in 31.97 to absorb the late pressure from a fast-closing pack and touch first. While the margins were narrow on the scoreboard — just 0.01 seconds separating the Quah sisters — the pattern of the race was clear: Ting Wen controlled the race from the front and never truly relinquished that control, using her underwaters, stroke efficiency, and composure under fatigue to protect the lead she built early.

Swim speed: how fast she moved

The race opens with an explosive burst: Start to Breakout (14.0 m) in 5.92 s at 2.37 m/s, the fastest water she sees all race and the clear velocity ceiling for the day. From there, speed settles to 1.66 m/s between Breakout and 25 m and 1.68 m/s over L1: 25–50 m, giving her a stable first-50 profile after the explosive launch and setting up that 27.79 opening split at halfway.

After the turn, she carries 1.88 m/s through Turn 1 Breakout (12.0 m), then navigates the fatigue-heavy third quarter at 1.44 m/s from Breakout to 75 m, her slowest segment by speed but one where length is preserved. The final L2: 75–100 m lifts to 1.48 m/s over 16.93 s, roughly 38% down from her 2.37 m/s peak, but still quick enough to convert the early speed and tactical control into a gold-medal touch with form intact.

Stroke rate: how fast she cycled

Across the full 100 m, Quah averages 27.6 spm, and the segment pattern shows intention rather than random fluctuation. After the no-stroke Start to Breakout phase, she moves to 56.6 spm from Breakout to 25 m, then softens slightly to 54.1 spm on L1: 25–50 m as she shifts from pure acceleration into controlled cruising to close out the first length.

On the second 50 m, stroke rate stays impressively tight: 56.3 spm from Breakout to 75 m and 54.8 spm across L2: 75–100 m. That shallow, controlled adjustment in tempo — instead of a sharp spike or collapse — is a major reason her 31.97 closing split looks composed and why she can hold connection while others are straining to change gears.

Distance per stroke: how well she held water

Efficiency is where this 100 m fly shows its championship quality. From Breakout to 25 m, she sits at 1.57 m per stroke at 56.6 spm, using higher rate with full length to lock in early pace straight after the underwater. Then the stroke shifts into race mode: L1: 25–50 m holds 1.92 m per stroke at 54.1 spm — her longest stroke of the race — a classic blend of long strokes and moderated tempo that supports her aggressive but controlled first-50 strategy.

On the back half, the metrics confirm that technique holds together despite rising fatigue. From Breakout to 75 m, she maintains 1.63 m per stroke at 56.3 spm while travelling at 1.44 m/s, preserving reasonable distance per stroke through the hardest part of the race. In the closing L2: 75–100 m, distance per stroke compresses to 1.56 m at 54.8 spm, indicating a controlled shortening rather than a technical breakdown and matching how stable her closing speed appears on the clock.

Why this race works for Quah

Taken together, the numbers describe a 100 m butterfly brilliantly structured for high-pressure racing. An elite 2.11 m/s average underwater velocity and 26.0 m of underwater distance (20.6% of the race) give her early command without overextending; a mid-race band around 1.66–1.68 m/s with DPS near 1.57–1.92 m shows genuine efficiency on the front half; and a 1.48 m/s closing segment with almost unchanged stroke rate shows she can absorb fatigue without losing form.

For Singapore, that combination of speed, stroke quality, and race intelligence is exactly what you want from a proven butterfly leader — and for Quah Ting Wen, it provides a robust blueprint to chase even faster times off the same race model.

How can we help?

SwimInsights is designed to unpack races like this in the same way for any competitive swimmer — from segment-by-segment speed, stroke rate and distance per stroke, to underwater usage and overall efficiency patterns. If you would like a similar race report for your own performance or for your swimmers, you can submit race details and video through SwimInsights to receive a structured breakdown, clear visuals, and coach-ready insights tailored to your event.

If you would like a similar in-depth report for your own race or for your squad, get in touch with SwimInsights to submit your race and receive a structured, data-driven analysis you can immediately turn into smarter training and faster swims.

Find Out More