How Singapore is 'home' for two swimmers representing Spain and Ireland at the World Aquatics Championships

SINGAPORE: For Spain's Carmen Weiler Sastre and Ireland's Jack Cassin, competing at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships has added significance.

It is in host country Singapore where the two swimmers spent much of their adolescent years; where they cultivated friendships; and where they built the foundation of their sporting careers.

To the pair, Singapore is special.

"I don't even think I can ... express or put into words how I feel after this," Cassin told CNA, referring to competing in Singapore.

He had just finished second in his heat of the men's 100m butterfly on Friday (Aug 1).

"It has so much more emotion and depth attached to it, than it would be for any other swimmer here, because this is the place that I used to call home. It definitely feels like being back home."

For Weiler Sastre, whose family moved to Singapore when she was just one, it was "surreal" to be back.

"It's really special for me to come back and compete in front of my friends and family," she told CNA.

"I really enjoyed growing up in Singapore ... I would say this is my home."

Cassin and Weiler Sastre have known each other over the years, having trained and studied together at the Canadian International School and then the Nexus International School.

'When he told me that he was going to Singapore for worlds, I was really excited," said Weiler Sastre, 20, who is Spain's national record holder in the 100m backstroke.

"We also went to the same place for a training camp in Malaysia in Kuching, so that was really cool to share that experience with him."

Both swimmers, who competed at the Singapore National Age Group Championships in the past, said the country has played a role in their growth as athletes. 

Weiler Sastre, who now studies at Virginia Tech