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SEA Games 2025: Behind the scenes - fears, tears, and the rawness of sport

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Team Singapore softballers feeling despondent after losing 3-0 to Philippines in the mens team final at the SEA Games.

ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO

Summary

• Calvin Queks emotional reaction in the mixed zone after winning Singapores first SEA Games 400m hurdles gold in 60 years highlighted the raw emotions athletes experience.
• The mixed zone across various SEA Games venues provides athletes with an outlet to express relief, frustration, and joy, humanising them beyond their performance.
• Singaporean athletes consistently engaged with the media in the mixed zone, sharing their experiences regardless of results, thus underscoring the significance of sportsmanship.

AI generated

BANGKOK – What does a Games smell and feel like?

At the Supachalasai National Stadium, hurdler Calvin Quek has just crossed line to clinch Singapore’s first gold medal in the men’s 400m hurdles in 60 years.

He stumbles into the media mixed zone, the area where every athlete, winner or loser, must pass, separated from the waiting press only by a row of barricades.

In this zone, Quek’s sweat and tears sum up the rawness that is sport.

Hunched over, spent from this gruelling one-lap race with 10 hurdles, he asks for water, sits down, back against the wall.

Malaysia’s Muhammad Aiman Najmi, who finished fifth, is sprawled out beside him, equally exhausted.

Quek stands to speak, but before he can talk he bursts into tears. Finally, the magnitude