In a remarkable achievement, Calvin Quek has brought home Singapore's first gold medal in the men’s 400-meter hurdles at the Southeast Asian Games since 1965. On December 15, 2025, Quek finished with an impressive time of 50.27 seconds at the Suphachalasai Stadium, outperforming competitors Nguyen Duc Son and Le Quoc Huy from Vietnam.
This victory is not just a personal triumph for Quek; it marks the end of a 60-year dry spell for Singapore in this event. After crossing the finish line, an emotional Quek expressed his sentiments to reporters, stating, "This is something I’ve been working towards since 2023. It’s been a tough 2024." He went on to reflect on his consistent performance throughout the year, noting, "Thankfully, I think 2025 was a good season. From start to end, the timings were great and I was consistent."
The last Singaporean athlete to win gold in this discipline was M Gunasena during the 1965 SEA Games. Quek had already made his mark by securing a bronze medal at the 2022 Games, which was Singapore’s first medal in this event since 1969, and he repeated this feat at the most recent Games held in Cambodia.
Quek admitted feeling significant pressure to clinch the gold medal after setting a new national record of 49.75 seconds in August. "It’s just a lot of relief being able to finally achieve this after a whole year of hard work,” he said.
This victory contributed to Singapore's third athletics gold medal at the current SEA Games, following Shanti Pereira’s historic second consecutive sprint double, showcasing the nation’s growing prowess in athletics. Both athletes are under the guidance of coach Luis Cunha, whom Quek credits for his development: "Right up till I joined coach Luis, I was not there, I was nowhere close... to even qualifying for a major Games, a SEA Games."
As he approached the final stretch of his race, Quek focused solely on his performance, remarking, "I wasn't able to see where my opponents were in that last stretch. I just know I was clearly in front and I just had to stay in front no matter what." This focus and determination exemplify the spirit of an athlete who has dedicated years to achieving this prestigious milestone.
