Siman Sudartawa Prepares To Retire After The 2025 SEA Games

JAKARTA National Swimmer I Gede Siman Sudartawa will decide to retire after undergoing his last SEA Games at the end of this year in Thailand.

Siman previously wanted to retire after the Aceh-North Sumatra National Sports Week (PON) in 2024. However, the coach and his colleagues wanted him to postpone the wish.

"The coach said, let's be able to once again the last SEA Games. Then the juniors also asked to be accompanied. So, finally decided, yes, this is the last SEA Games," he said.

Siman has a plan to become a coach after retiring later. Another option is to become a civil servant (PNS) at the Ministry of Youth and Sports (Kemenpora).

He completed ASCA coaching certification from the American Swimming Coaches Association to Level 3 and plans to start a coach's career from a beginner club.

He also hopes that in the future he can become a coach of the Indonesian national team and be able to produce reliable swimming athletes who continue their goals.

"Surely later it must be developed continuously because if you want to level up to the national coach, you have to increase the certification. Who knows later when I train, I have students who can continue their dreams," he said.

Siman, who won gold number 50 meters backstroke at the previous edition of the SEA Games, set a target to defend his title.

"The preparation has now entered a special stage, more to power and speed. Later, after coach Albert (C. Sutanto) returns from the Islamic Solidarity Games, the program has just begun to change," said Siman.