Kuala lumpur: Breaking national records is a career milestone for most athletes, but for Khiew Hoe Yean, it is just another step towards entering the world-class level. With over 10 national records to his name, the swimmer does not measure success by numbers alone but focuses on steady, consistent growth with every competition, stroke by stroke.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, at the 2025 Rhine Ruhr FISU World University Games (WUG) in Germany, Hoe Yean carved out a historic milestone by clinching the silver medal in the men’s 400-metre freestyle. He broke his own national record of 3 minutes 48.36 seconds by clocking 3:47.38s, delivering Malaysia’s first medal at this edition of the Games. Hoe Yean’s achievement ended Malaysia’s 34-year medal drought in swimming at the WUG, the last being Jeffrey Ong’s silver in the men’s 1,500m freestyle at the 1991 Sheffield Games.

He further contributed to the national team by helping the Malaysian quartet, with Arvin Shaun Singh Chahal, Lim Yin Chuen, and Tan Khai X
in, to clock 7 minutes 19.66 seconds to finish sixth in the final. Despite the placing, the team broke the national record in the men’s 4x200m freestyle relay.

Looking ahead, Hoe Yean is set to compete in the World Aquatics Championships 2025 in Singapore, starting tomorrow, where he will participate in the 100m, 200m, 400m, and 800m freestyle, as well as the 4x200m freestyle relay. He is also setting his sights on the 2025 Thailand SEA Games in December, aiming to deliver more gold medals. “I think I’ll be shortlisted as well. So let’s hope for the best and let’s get more gold in SEA games,” he stated.