Singapore swimmer Gan Ching Hwee has claimed her third Asian Games medal with a silver in the 400m freestyle to extend her winning streak in the 2026 edition of the Games, setting a new national record in the event. On September 22, the 23-year-old set her Tokyo Aquatics Centre time to 4:06.81, a better than two-second improvement than her previous national record.
Gan earned a second Asian Games silver on the meet, picking it up in her 1,500m freestyle. It’s also another national record in what has turned out to be a record breaking campaign for the Singapore swimmer.
Gan Ching Hwee Asian Games Silver: 400m Freestyle Result
Gan was second in the women’s 400m freestyle behind China’s Li Bingjie with a time of 4:02.71. Japan’s Ichika Kajimoto finished bronze in 4:07.45.
Gan was seeded fifth on the basis of her heats times of 4:13.05. She then created an impressive improvement to the finish when she came up to the wall after 4:06.81.
400m freestyle medal results
| Position | Swimmer | Country | Time |
| Gold | Li Bingjie | China | 4:02.71 |
| Silver | Gan Ching Hwee | Singapore | 4:06.81 |
| Bronze | Ichika Kajimoto | Japan | 4:07.45 |
Gan was fourth after the initial split, before at the 200m outmuscling her way into third and second, and holding onto second place at the finish, Sport Singapore’s official coverage of the team has read.
Gan Ching Hwee Sets New National Record
The Gan Ching Hwee national record in the 400m freestyle now stands at 4:06.81.
She previously held a national mark of 4:09.34, at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in July. The 4:09.34 is also her previous Singapore record as mentioned in World Aquatics.
The time that took Gan to beat the national mark by 2.53 seconds was about two months.
The new event is the latest in a line-up of good performances in the middle- and long-distance freestyle.
Gan Ching Hwee’s 2026 Asian Games Campaign
The 400m final marked a big milestone in the Asian Games campaign that was spearheaded by the Gan Ching Hwee team.
She won the silver medal in the women’s 1,500m freestyle at the national championships with a time of 16:00.45 on September 20, setting a new national record. She also created a Singapore national record of 8:29.56 in her first 800m effort.
In the process, she has won her second individual medal from four events in the 2026 Asian Games.
Gan will make her way back into the action later in the Games on the 4x200m freestyle relay on 24th September and the 800m freestyle on 25th September, Sport Singapore said.
Gan’s national-record milestones
According to World Aquatics, Gan has national records in several freestyle events, including the 200m, 400m, 800m and 1,500m freestyle.
Her 2026 results include:
- 400m freestyle: 4:06.81 – Asian Games silver
- 1,500m freestyle: 16:00.45 – Asian Games silver
- 800m split: 8:29.56 – national record
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What’s Next for Gan Ching Hwee?
There’s still more for Gan in the swimming program for the 2026 Asian Games. Next up for her on the list are the women’s 4x200m freestyle relay and 800m freestyle.
The swimmer has also said that he has been keeping his expectations in check and not getting too ahead of himself.
For official athlete and competition information, readers can check Gan’s profile and results through World Aquatics and follow Team Singapore’s official coverage.
FAQs
Who won the 400m freestyle silver at the 2026 Asian Games?
Gan Ching Hwee of Singapore won silver in the women’s 400m freestyle with a national-record time of 4:06.81 on September 22, 2026.
What is Gan Ching Hwee’s new 400m freestyle national record?
Gan’s new Singapore 400m freestyle national record is 4:06.81, replacing her previous mark of 4:09.34 set at the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
How many medals has Gan Ching Hwee won at the 2026 Asian Games?
Gan has won two silver medals so far: one in the women’s 1,500m freestyle and another in the women’s 400m freestyle.
What events will Gan Ching Hwee compete in next?
Gan is scheduled to compete in the 4x200m freestyle relay on September 24 and the 800m freestyle on September 25, according to Sport Singapore’s Team Singapore coverage.
