Young Para Swimmer Siti Aisyah Wins Five Medals in Thailand

RRI.CO.ID, Nakhon Ratchasima - The 15-year-old Indonesian para swimmer athlete Siti Aisyah emerged as a breakout star during the 2025 ASEAN Para Games in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, throughout the tournament week.

She successfully earned a haul of two gold and three bronze medals to solidify Indonesia's position as a regional para-swimming powerhouse. Aisyah achieved this feat by channeling her early experience in village river currents into professional technique, outperforming veteran competitors in her debut outing.

As the youngest member of the national para-swimming team, she dominated the 100-meter and 200-meter S14 backstroke events. Her victory was particularly historic because she outpaced Thailand’s top-seeded swimmer, Nattharinee Khajhonmatha, who previously held the record in that class.

"Initially, I only targeted one event; I simply followed the coach's instructions and tried my best, as winning or losing came later," she stated, as quoted by Antara.

Her path to international success began far from professional facilities, rooted in the simple childhood habit of swimming in a river near her home.

This natural talent was noticed by a relative, Rika Astika, who suggested formal lessons to ensure her skills were safely and professionally developed. By the fourth grade, Aisyah began formal training, though she briefly quit due to exhaustion before her passion for the water eventually pulled her back.

Her consistency caught the attention of the National Paralympic Committee of West Sumatra, who identified her massive potential in the backstroke category. At age 12, she accepted a life-changing offer from the Indonesian government to join a specialized athlete development program, despite having to leave her parents.

Moving to Surakarta, Central Java, she lived independently at the Special Center for Indonesian Disability Sports (SKODI) to undergo rigorous daily training. These two years of disciplined living transformed her homesickness into a fuel for mental and physical maturity.

Aisyah was identified with an intellectual disability in primary school, a condition that allowed her psychomotor skills and athletic focus to shine brightly. In the pool, she found a sense of freedom and confidence where every stroke became a testament to her personal struggle and resilience.

Despite her rising sports career, she remains committed to her studies as an eighth-grade student at the Surakarta State Special School (SLB). She believes that education and sports must go hand-in-hand, a principle her family has instilled in her since the very beginning.

Her victory over the Thai favorite in the 100-meter backstroke remains her most memorable moment, achieved by focusing entirely on her own rhythm and strategy. This success serves as proof that long-term development and family support can turn childhood dreams into international reality.

With her career only just beginning, Aisyah is projected to be a cornerstone of Indonesia’s para-swimming future on the world stage. For her, the ultimate achievement is not just the medals, but the ability to keep growing and making her nation proud. ***