Let's embrace all talent, wherever they come from

Embrace the democracy of talents — unless there is evidence for doubt. That is the challenge for officials, coaches, swimmers, media and fans as the swimming competition kicks off at the World Aquatics Championships on July 27.

- Chua Chong Jin

It is a message worth repeating, for there remains a tendency to celebrate talents from traditional powerhouses while casting a suspicious eye on those from less familiar shores.

Take, for instance, the glowing global media coverage of Canada's Summer McIntosh and France's Leon Marchand. Their amazing versatility, underlined by their dazzling world records, have been much celebrated. And rightly so, for they and other rare young talents deserve accolades for their dedication and brilliance.

The problem lies in the contrast.

When China's Pan Zhanle stunned the field in the men's 100m freestyle at the 2024 Paris Olympics, the focus quickly shifted — not to his blistering speed but to suspicion. In Paris he was remarkably fast, clocking 46.40 seconds for a world record, well ahead of big names like Australia's Kyle Chalmers and Romania's David Popovici.

Yet, if one were to compare margins of victory and times, McIntosh and Marchand were arguably even more dominant in their respective events. Doubts did not surface on whether they were for real. In the 400m individual medley, McIntosh's current world mark of 4:23.65 is some 10 seconds faster than other top swimmers. That is an eternity in a sport where so little separates the best from the rest, though she is clearly a generational talent.