Maldivian swimmers set multiple National records at World Aquatics Championships

Maldivian swimmers Tazkiya Mirsoad (Tazki) and Mohamed Aan Hussain have once again etched their names in the national record books at the 22nd World Aquatics Championships, currently underway in Singapore.

Aan set a new national record in the men’s 50m freestyle long-course heat, clocking an impressive 23.81 seconds. The seasoned sprinter has consistently improved on his own record, which he previously broke with a time of 24.82 seconds at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, and again with a 24.28-second finish at the 66th Malaysia Open Swimming Championships earlier this year.

At the World Championships, Aan finished third in his heat—sixth of nine swimmers—and placed outside the top 15 semi-finalists among 116 global competitors across 13 heats.

Tazkiya Mirsoad continued her strong performance in Singapore by breaking multiple national records. In the women’s 100m freestyle long-course event, she set a new national benchmark with a time of 1:04.32. The previous record, held by Aishath Ulya Shaig, was set at the University of Western Australia Westcoast Swimming Club (UWSC) Club Night No. 5 earlier this year.

Earlier, Tazki had broken her own record in the same event, having clocked 1:05.03 at the National and Junior National Long Course Swimming Championships in Sri Lanka last year.

On the second day of competition, Tazki also set a new national record in the women's 100m backstroke, touching the wall at 1:13.49. Meanwhile, Aan continued his streak by recording 53.80 seconds in the men’s 100m freestyle heat—another national best.

The Maldivian contingent in Singapore includes swimmers Meraal Ain Latheef and Mohamed Rihan Shiham, who have also delivered record-breaking performances. Meraal set a new national record in the women's 200m individual medley with a time of 2:40. Rihaan followed suit with a record time of 2:20 in the men's 200m butterfly.

In a final highlight, all four swimmers teamed up in the 4x100m mixed medley relay, setting a new national record with a combined time of 4:40.23.

So far, the Maldives has broken national records in all seven events they've participated in—marking one of the most successful outings for the nation at the World Aquatics Championships.