Siman Sudartawa Swimmer Officially Closes Career At SEA Games 2025

JAKARTA Senior Indonesian swimmer I Gede Siman Sudartawa officially closed his career at the 2025 Thailand SEA Games while handing over the men's backstroke baton to Jason Donovan Yusuf.

Siman closed his long journey at the biennial multi-pronged sporting event with bronze scores from the men's 50-meter backstroke on Thursday, December 11, 2025, at SAT Swimming Pool, Bangkok.

"I'm happy to close my last SEA Games with bronze medal souvenirs. I am very happy that a young swimmer can steal two gold medals in 100 meters and 50 meters backstroke," said Siman, confiscated from Antara.

In the event that became his last appearance at the Southeast Asian multi-event, Siman said his flagship number had now found a new focus through the figure of Jason.

The swimmer who was born in Bali emphasized that Jason's presence was a positive signal for the future of Indonesian swimming, especially in a number that for more than a decade has been his specialty.

"Now is the time to close the book, we are all leaving it to Jason now. Hopefully it can be more achievements," said Siman.

Siman finished third with a time of 25.49 seconds. He is only slightly adrift of his compatriot, Jason, who won gold with 25.36 seconds, as well as Singaporean swimmer Zheng Wen Quah who won silver by 25.43 seconds.

Siman is one of Indonesia's swimming icons with a long career span that started in the 2011 SEA Games.

He successfully bought up five golds each from the men's 50 meters, 100 meters, and 200 meters backstroke, as well as one gold from the men's medley 4 x 100 meter relay number when making their SEA Games debut in 2011.

Two years later at the 2013 Myanmar SEA Games, Siman won gold in the men's 100-meter backstroke and silver in the men's 200-meter backstroke.

He then managed to restore glory in the men's 50-meter backstroke by winning gold at the 2017 SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Previously, in Cambodia in 2023, he also still got gold.