Stomach issues, but Kam ends drought

Having missed the previous two SEA Games - first due to surgery for a collapsed lung, then with school exams in the United States - high jumper Kampton Kam faced a last-minute scare when food poisoning threatened to rule him out of the 2025 edition in Thailand.

- Deepanraj Ganesan

But the 24-year-old overcame his stomach problems on Dec 12 to win his first Games medal and Singapore’s first in the men’s high jump in 30 years.

At the Supachalasai National Stadium, Kam leapt 2.19m to claim the silver ahead of Filipino Leonard Grospe, who also registered the same height but settled for bronze on countback.

Thailand’s Tawan Kaeodam won the gold in 2.22m.

On battling through food poisoning to win a silver medal, Kam, who even found the energy to fire up the crowd before his jumps, said: “It started two days ago, and I was just consistently going to the bathroom. I think I was a little dehydrated today, had a little headache starting off...

“I tried my best, and I’m proud of myself for... not giving up and giving a good fight. I’m glad to come back with the medal for Singapore.”

The Republic’s male jumpers last won a medal at the 1995 edition in Chiang Mai, where Wong Yew Tong claimed the silver in a national record of 2.22m. Wong’s mark stood until it was bettered by Kam’s 2.25m in April.