Records Set To Tumble

Wider, deeper world championships arena pool at Kallang 'is built to be fast'

- David Lee

Fans can expect record-breaking feats at the July 11-Aug 3 World Aquatics Championships (WCH) in Singapore, as the event organisers gave the media a first look and back-of-house tour of the WCH Arena on June 16.

Built in Carpark G near the Kallang Tennis and Kallang Football Hubs, the main attraction of the sheltered, purpose-built facility constructed by Kin Productions is the long-course pool which will host the swimming (July 27-Aug 3) and artistic swimming (July 18-25) events. A warm-up pool with the same dimensions is located in a separate block.

Measuring 50m by 26m with a depth of three metres, the competition pool is notably wider and deeper than the Paris Olympics' temporary pool at the La Defense Arena, which was also built by Italian contractor Myrtha Pools but was one metre narrower and 2.15m deep.

At Paris 2024, there were four world records and 17 Olympic records. There is a realistic prospect of more record-breaking feats here, as swimmers tend to prefer a deeper pool because the increased depth reduces water turbulence and calmer waters generally result in faster times.

Mark Chay, co-chairperson of the WCH Singapore 2025 organising committee, told The Straits Times: "The pool is built to be fast. Each athlete has more space in each lane that helps with the stability of the water and less turbulence. The Malmsten lane ropes also help with preventing the wake of the waves from interfering with the speed of other athletes.