The 2025 SEA Games in Thailand weren't just about the medal count. Beyond the numbers and standings, the 33rd edition of the multi-sport event delivered moments that touched the most human side of sports: acts of courage that broke long-standing dominance, tears shed in the arena, cross-border embraces, and records that pushed the limits of history.
From December 9 to 20, 2025, Bangkok and several host cities witnessed the SEA Games' continued role as a stage for powerful stories of Southeast Asian athletes. Here are some of the most compelling moments from the 2025 SEA Games.
Untouchable Dominance on the Weightlifting Stage
The weightlifting stage at the 2025 SEA Games belonged entirely to Rizki Juniansyah. Competing in the men’s 79 kg category, the Indonesian lifter delivered a commanding performance from his opening lift, securing the gold medal at Chonburi Sports School, Thailand, on Monday (15 December).
His status as a Paris 2024 Olympic gold medalist was not merely a title, it was clearly reflected on the platform. In the snatch session, Rizki established early control with a 160-kilogram lift, executed with apparent ease. That advantage soon became virtually unassailable when he carried his momentum into the clean and jerk.
His 205-kilogram clean and jerk proved decisive, effectively sealing the gold medal even before the competition had fully concluded. With a combined total of 365 kilograms, Rizki stood firmly atop the podium.
The gap between Rizki and his closest rivals was striking. Malaysia’s Muhammad Erry Hidayat claimed silver with a total of 336 kilograms, while Thailand’s Natthawut Suepsuan secured bronze with 335 kilograms.
Read also: Olympic Champion Rizki Juniansyah Breaks World Records at 2025 SEA Games
When the 10-Second Sprint Barrier Fell at the SEA Games
If Rizki shook the weightlifting arena, the track at Suphachalasai National Stadium bore witness to the collapse of one of Southeast Asia’s most legendary limits. For the first time in history, a regional sprinter broke the 10-second barrier in the men’s 100 meters.
The historic feat belonged to Puripol Boonson, a 19-year-old Thai sprinter. On Thursday (11 December), Boonson clocked 9.94 seconds in the heats, becoming the first Southeast Asian athlete to run the 100 meters in under 10 seconds.
That mark set the tone for an unforgettable SEA Games campaign. Boonson went on to win the 100-meter final with a time of 10.00 seconds, securing the gold medal in front of the home crowd.
The achievement added to his gold collection in Bangkok and echoed the sprint double he first achieved at the 2021 SEA Games in Hanoi, when he was just 16 years old.
Boonson’s impact extended beyond individual events. On Monday (15 December 2025), he anchored Thailand’s men’s 4×100-meter relay team to gold with a time of 38.28 seconds, setting a new SEA Games record.
Running alongside Thawatchai Himaiad, Chayut Khongprasit, and Soraoat Dapbang, Boonson led Thailand past Malaysia, which took silver in 39.03 seconds, and Indonesia, which claimed bronze in 39.51 seconds.
Respect Beyond the Border: The Beauty of Street Skateboarding
The 2025 SEA Games also delivered a viral and deeply emotional moment in the men’s street skateboard event. Indonesia’s Basral Graito Hutomo secured the gold medal after posting a total score of 166.67 points in the final at SAT Extreme Sports Park on Sunday (14 December). His final single-trick attempt proved decisive in a dramatic finish.
Yet the defining moment came after the competition ended. Basral was seen in tears before being embraced by a Malaysian official.
The figure was later identified as Mariss Khan bin Mer Amanullah Khan, head coach of Malaysia’s national skateboard team. The spontaneous gesture was captured on camera, shared on social media, and quickly drew widespread attention.
“At that moment, I thought, ‘Forget everything, this is his moment!’ We’ve known each other for a long time. This is the beauty of street skateboarding. We’re not competing against opponents, but fighting against obstacles,” Mariss Khan said.
“He was the last one to go, so we were extremely happy,” he added.
Indonesia Ends Thailand’s 18-Year Futsal Reign
A historic breakthrough emerged on the futsal court as Indonesia’s national futsal team finally ended Thailand’s long-standing dominance in the sport. Thailand had ruled men’s futsal since its introduction at the 2007 SEA Games, winning gold in every edition that followed.
Across five editions—under both final-match and round-robin formats—the men’s futsal gold medal had always belonged to Thailand. That reign finally came to an end on Friday, 19 December 2025.
Playing at Nonthaburi Province Stadium, Indonesia showed no hesitation and dismantled the host nation with a commanding 6–1 victory in the decisive match. First-half penalty goals from Firman Adriansyah and Syauqi Saud gave Indonesia early control.
The dominance continued after the break, with two goals from Ardiansyah Nur, and one goal each from Samuel Eko and Dewa Rizki sealing a historic win.
The result marked Indonesia’s first-ever SEA Games gold medal in futsal. Prior to this triumph, Indonesia had managed only three bronze medals (2007, 2011, 2013) and one silver medal at the 2021 SEA Games, where they again fell to Thailand in the final.
History Made: Indonesia Wins Ice Hockey Gold
Another landmark moment came from men’s ice hockey, as Indonesia claimed its first SEA Games gold medal in the sport by defeating Thailand 3–2 in the final at the Thailand International Ice Hockey Arena on Friday (19 December).
Ice hockey has only been contested at the SEA Games three times, in 2017 and 2019, before being absent in 2021 and 2023. Indonesia finished in fifth place in both of its previous appearances.
The gold medal at the 2025 SEA Games represented a dramatic leap in performance and underscored Indonesia’s rapid development in non-traditional sports, signaling a broader expansion of its competitive sporting profile.
