Lottie Cullen
KUALA LUMPUR: It could have been Malaysia celebrating a new women’s swimming champion, instead, it has been Ireland’s gain.
Lottie Cullen, now Ireland’s national backstroke record holder, returned to Kuala Lumpur this week and showed her class by winning the women’s 200m backstroke in 2:14.47 in the 19 above and Open category.
Competing for her mother’s state Perak, Cullen cruised to victory at the Malaysia Invitational Age Group Swimming Championships at the National Aquatic Centre Bukit Jalil yesterday.
National swimmer Chong Xin Lin of Kuala Lumpur came second with 2:24.05s and Palak Ashutosh of India completed the podium with 2:25.56s.
Cullen's time posted on Thursday (Jan 5) would have easily secured Malaysia a gold medal at the Thailand SEA Games, where host nation's Mia Millar won with 2:14.95s.
Cullen, who grew up in Ipoh, moved to Ireland at the age of 10.
While she initially harboured dreams of swimming for her birth country, citizenship regulations at the time made that path difficult.
"When I was younger, I really wanted to represent Malaysia. My mother is from Ipoh but I was born outside Malaysia. We did try many times to get a Malaysian passport but then it was difficult at that time," said Cullen.
"But as I progressed as a swimmer in Ireland, I started to feel more Irish in terms of my sport."
Despire wearing the green of Ireland on the world stage, she maintains a profound connection to Malaysian.
She described the local swimming community as incerdibly welcoming and spent time with the Malaysian contingent during the 2025 Rhine-Ruhr World University Games.
Off the blocks, Cullen finds her Malaysian identity most vibrantly through the local cuisine.
"I have been having roti canai every morning for breakfast since I've been here. Also char kway teow and wan tan mee. I will miss this when I return to Belfast," said Cullen, who is pursuing Accountancy Course at the Ulster University in Belfast.
She has set the Irish senior short course record in the 100m backstroke with 56.96s and won gold medals in the 50m and 100m backstroke at the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) Championships.
She also finished 13th (2:05.57s) in the 200m backstroke at the 2024 World Short Course Championships in Budapest and remains a key asset for the Irish national team.
"Short-term goals are the Commonwealth and European Games this summer. Long-term, I really like to be at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics."
RESULTS
Boys
11 and Under
100m breaststroke: 1. Ming Rong Kobe (Kul) 1:25.62, 2. Cayden How (Kul) 1:26.07, 3. Ethan Shu (Swk) 1:26.57.
200m individual medley: 1. Lim Ja Ren (Joh) 2:43.53, 2. Cayden How (Kul) 2:44.77, 3. Edric Connor (Sab) 2:49.09.
12-13
100m breaststroke: 1. Daniel Lai (Pen) 1:10.94, 2. Arkaan Simbolon (Ina) 1:12.94, 3. Choo Xu Yau (Pen) 1:13.40.
200m backstroke: 1. Kurtis Yi (Hkg) 2:20.75, 2. Ayaz Zahin (Joh) 2:27.61, 3. Kyrus Shing (Hkg) 2:27.61. 1500m freestyle: 1. Kurtis Yi (Hkg) 16:59.38 meet rec, 2. Ayaz Zahin (Joh) 17:47.51, 3. Kyrus Shing (Hkg) 18:35.09.
14-15
100m breaststroke: 1. Anson Wei (Swk) 1:08.14, 2. Ethan Tan (Swk) 1:08.25, 3. Lam Ka Yeung (Hkg) 1:09.20.
200m backstroke: 1. Nathaniel Shu (Kul) 2:14.79, 2. Arsya Laksana (Ina) 2:16.17, 3. Aiden Lee (Hkg) 2:17.27.
16-18
100m breaststroke: 1. Emmanuel Loh (Sab) 1:05.83, 2. Xinxian Sophocles Ng (Joh) 1:06.56, 3. Yong Win Le (Joh) 1:06.77.
200m backstroke: 1. Yung Cheung (Hkg) 2:06.81, 2. Mohd Haviz Rizal (Ina) 2:09.86, 3. Lam Wai Lok (Hkg) 2:12.26.
19 and Open
100m breaststroke: 1. Loo Jhe Yee (Pah) 1:06.04, 2. Teo Zun Jet (Kul) 1:06.11, 3. Arish Amni Ronisafihin (Sab) 1:06.53.
200m backstroke: 1. Khiew Hoe Yean (Kul) 2:04.20, 2. Yu Dongqi (Hkg) 2:05.71, 3. Chan Sheung Kwan (Hkg) 2:07.73.
Girls
11 and Under
100m breaststroke: 1. Amaryss Zee (Joh) 1:24.85, 2. Lim Eu Ning (Pen) 1:28.02, 3. Lim Sze Yun (Kul) 1:28.06.
200m individual medley: 1. Keina Kimura Merican (Kul) 2:47.85, 2. Yui Hirano (Kul) 2:50.21, 3. Amaryss Zee Ang (Joh) 2:51.57.
12-13
100m breaststroke: 1. Kimberley Bee (Kul) 1:15.53, 2. Lai Wen An (Mel) 1:15.98, 3. Kathryn Leong (Pen) 1:17.61.
200m backstroke: 1. Noma Horiuchi (Sel) 2:30.22, 2. Mak Tsz Wing (Hkg) 2:30.93, 3. Isobel Anh (Hkg) 2:31.28.
800m freestyle: 1. You Hng Ng (Joh) 10:03.87, 2. Aisyah Putri Sibylla (Ina) 10:11.26, 3. Anna Maglai (Kul) 10:12.77.
14-15
100m breaststroke: 1. Hei Shun So (Hkg) 1:12.08, 2. Tsz Ching Yung (Hkg) 1:12.68, 3. Aw Yuet Ting (Pen) 1:14.35.
200m backstroke: 1. Ashley Chan (Hkg) 2:19.29, 2. Vivian Tee (Pen) 2:22.44, 3. Kayla Mathis (Hkg) 2:33.34.
16-18
100m breaststroke: 1. Chelsie Lam (Hkg) 1:08.98, 2. Wui Kiu Man (Hkg) 1:09.20, 3. Claire Cheung (Hkg) 1:11.06.
200m backstroke: 1. Pui Yan Ho (Hkg) 2:18.27, 2. Li Cheuk Yiu (Hkg) 2:19.08, 3. Shanise Jauwa (Swk) 2:29.75.
19 and Open
100m breaststroke: 1. Lam Hoi Kiu (Hkg) 1:11.32, 2. Ageng Aulia Putri (Ina) 1:17.85, 3. Angelyn Soong (Prk) 1:18.08. 200m backstroke: 1. Lottie Cullen (Prk) 2:14.47, 2. Chong Xin Lin (Kul) 2:24.05, 3. Palak Ashutosh (Ind) 2:25.56.
