The Khmer Swimming Federation (KGF) used the 2024 nationals to select the swimming competition to select national representatives. KSF
The Khmer Swimming Federation has set the goal of bringing at least one medal back from the 33rd SEA Games, which will be held in Thailand at the end of 2025.
Meanwhile, the Kingdom’s finswimmers are preparing to compete for medals at the 2nd CMAS SEA Finswimming Championship Indoor, set to be hosted this year, by Indonesia or Vietnam.
Although Cambodia made history at the 32nd SEA Games, securing two gold, one silver and four bronze medals in the pool, the swimming federation acknowledged that claiming just one may be a challenge at this year’s games.
Hem Kiry, secretary-general of the federation, explained that the host nation, Thailand, has not included finswimming — a sport in which Cambodia excels — among the events, whereas in 2023, as hosts, the Kingdom ensured they were part of the games.
“At this year’s SEA Games, we aim to win at least one medal in any swimming discipline. We know that Olympic swimming events in the ASEAN region are highly competitive, with many countries already reaching world-class levels. To beat them, we will have to work extremely hard,” he said.
He noted that while Cambodia’s swimming sector is making significant progress, neighbouring countries such as Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, the Philippines and Indonesia have long been ahead.
The Kingdom successfully hosted last year’s regional finswimming championship. Chhorn Norn
“We are constantly chasing after them! It’s not that we aren’t improving, but as we move forward, they do too. They are already producing strong results and won’t wait for us. They keep pushing forward, so we must work even harder to catch up and achieve success for our country and the federation,” he added.
To meet their goals, the federation is focusing on both domestic and overseas athlete development. It has strengthened the quality of its coaching staff by sending Cambodian coaches abroad for advanced training, allowing them to bring back new techniques.
“Strong nations are always striving to get even better. They don’t want to regress or lose to us. If we want to beat them, we must be truly determined,” Kiry emphasised.
The federation is also preparing the finswimming team.
Cambodia hosted the 1st CMAS SEA Finswimming Championship Indoor last year, finishing second on the medal table with a haul of two gold, seven silver and six bronzes.
“Our second major target this year is the SEA Finswimming Championship. We performed well as hosts last year, and now we are in discussions about which country will host the next event. Indonesia and Vietnam are the top candidates — if Indonesia declines, Vietnam will take on hosting duties,” added Kiry.
