When the 22nd edition of the World Aquatics Championships took place in Singapore from 11 July to 3 August 2025, more than 2,500 athletes from 210 national member federations competed across six sports, such as swimming, water polo, diving, artistic swimming, open water swimming, and high diving. Behind every record-breaking swim, decisive goal, and dramatic finish was OMEGA, the Official Timekeeper of the event, continuing a partnership with World Aquatics, which has spanned over five decades.
“Excellence is an evolution,” said Alain Zobrist, CEO of Swiss Timing, OMEGA’s sports timekeeping subsidiary. “Just like athletes are always pushing the boundaries of endurance and performance, OMEGA is always working hard to raise the standards of timekeeping.”
From their debut as Official Timekeeper at the Olympic Games in 1932 to the state-of-the-art systems in use this year, OMEGA’s timekeeping has evolved far beyond the stopwatch. At the Championships, their precision was powered by the quartz-driven Quantum Timer, accurate to one millionth of a second, and supported by innovations designed specifically for aquatic sports. Swimming touchpads, first introduced in 1967, stopped the clock the instant a swimmer finished a race, while light systems mounted on starting blocks displayed results almost instantly. In water polo, transparent shot clocks guided both players and spectators, changing colour to indicate play or stop.
The Championships also showcased OMEGA’s growing ability to tell the full story of each race. The brand’s Swim Tracker system, using image-tracking cameras positioned around the pool, provided live data on swimmer speed, acceleration, stroke counts, distances between competitors, and real-time positioning. This technology not only enriched the viewing experience but also offered athletes and coaches critical insights into race strategies and performance.
“Our standard of precision is already at a very reliable level,” Zobrist explained. “What’s changing now is our ability to capture and present more information. We can reveal where a race was won or lost, helping athletes understand and adapt to new frontiers in performance.”
Spectators at home also benefited from OMEGA’s innovations. On-screen graphics identified swimmers by name, lane, and nationality before each race, while the popular virtual record line tracked world record pace in real time. High-speed cameras stood ready to resolve any contested finishes – a reminder of their importance since confirming Michael Phelps’ win by one hundredth of a second at the 2008 Olympic Games.
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The Championships proved once again that whether in the pool or on the wrist, OMEGA’s pursuit of precision is unrelenting. Their Seamaster Diver 300M and Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M, both Master Chronometer-certified, reflected the same craftsmanship, durability, and aquatic spirit that defined their timekeeping in Singapore.
With history made and records broken, OMEGA’s role ensured that every moment was measured with absolute accuracy, preserving the triumphs of the 2025 World Aquatics Championships for the record books.
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