~ Nearly 2,500 athletes from 206 registered countries will compete at the 22nd edition of the World Aquatics Championships, with Singapore showcasing the best of aquatic sports from 11 July to 3 August.
"VAN" (Sports Desk - 11.07.2025) :: Speakers from across the global aquatics community looked ahead to the first-ever World Aquatics Championships to be held in Southeast Asia at today’s opening press conference in Singapore.
Nearly 2,500 athletes from 206 registered countries will compete at Singapore 2025, showcasing the best of aquatic sports from 11 July to 3 August.
A record 77 medal events will be contested with the addition of the Men’s and Women’s 3km Knockout Sprints in Open Water Swimming, and Singapore 2025 will also feature a record prize money pool of more than USD 6 million, in addition a USD 30,000 World Record Bonus in Swimming.
World Aquatics President Husain Al Musallam looked ahead to the start of the World Aquatics Championships.
"It is important for our athletes; it’s important for our community; it’s important also for our development," said the President Al Musallam.
“Our coaches, our national federations, our officials, our athletes have continued training very hard and we saw them doing their best in the Olympic Games in 2021, then the World Aquatics Championships Budapest 2022 and Fukuoka 2023, and then two major championships in 2024 - the World Aquatics Championships in Doha at the beginning of the year and the Paris Olympic Games," the World Aquatics President said-
“As well as the Continental and National events, that is five mega events, and every event created new records and higher standards across our six disciplines. We are very happy to be here in Singapore, and after 2025 our calendar will be back to normal.”
World Aquatics Executive Director Brent Nowicki highlighted expectations for another outstanding World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, after 30 world records were set at the World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m) in Budapest in December 2024.
“Coming out of Budapest was something special with the number of world records that we saw in the swimming pool, an unprecedent number. I think if you combine that with the 29 medallist countries we saw in swimming in Doha at the last World Aquatics Championships, you see this progression and development of emerging athletes, emerging stars and emerging countries,” Brent Nowicki said.
"I think you are seeing the emergence of new teams, new faces and recognition of growth across all of our disciplines, and I think we will continue to see that here in Singapore"
Competition begins tomorrow with Water Polo at the OCBC Aquatic Centre, which will also host diving later during the World Aquatics Championships.
Eleftheria Plevritou, captain of Greece’s Women’s Water Polo National Team, said: “Our aim is to be first in the group and, of course, the quarter-finals will be the second aim we have. We need to prove to ourselves that we are a team that belongs to the top teams in the world, and achieve the best we can do at the World Aquatics Championships.”
Marko Bijac, captain of Croatia’s Men’s Water Polo National Team, added: “We are proud that today we are able to represent our country, to achieve such good results for Croatia.
"We are aware that here in Singapore it will be very difficult, but game after game we will do the best we can, and during this preparation period we have been able to avoid any injuries. We are ready for the start of the Championships."
Swimming and Artistic Swimming events during Singapore 2025 will be held at the World Aquatics Championships Arena, a 4,800-seater purpose-built facility. Sentosa (Palawan Green) completes the world-class trio of venues being used for the World Aquatics Championships by hosting Open Water Swimming and High Diving.
The World Aquatics Championships coincides with Singapore’s celebrations of 60 years of independence during 2025, and Local Organising Committee Co-Chair and Sport Singapore CEO Alan Goh, along with Local Organising Committee Co-Chair Mark Chay, expressed their excitement.
"After more than 18 months of preparation, we are pleased to welcome the global aquatics fraternity to Singapore. 2025 is a special year for Singapore," said Co-Chair Goh.
"As we proudly host the world’s most prestigious aquatics competition, we also celebrate our nation’s 60th year of independence, so we’re very excited to have these Championships help be the crescendo as we lead to our 60th birthday celebration on 9 August,” Local Organising Committee Co-Chair and Sport Singapore CEO Alan Goh said.
“Being able to give this platform to our national athletes and athletes from around the world, the opportunity to be inspired, to be amongst their peers and to perform at their best – it’s truly amazing to host this event in Singapore,” Local Organising Committee Co-Chair and two-time Olympian Mark Chay added.
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