Khaopun Kamonluck Tungnapakorn, a Thai national swimmer, has withdrawn from the 2025 SEA Games after being diagnosed with cancer.
On 9 December 2025, ahead of the 2025 SEA Games scheduled from 9-20 December, hosted by Thailand, swimming events will be held at the newly renovated swimming pool at the Sports Authority of Thailand in Huamark, refurbished specifically for the SEA Games.
However, “Khaopun” Kamonluck Tungnapakorn, a bronze medalist at the recent Asian Championships, has withdrawn from the 2025 SEA Games after being diagnosed with cancer, requiring urgent treatment.
Khaopun’s father posted on Facebook, saying, “On behalf of Khaopun Kamonluck Tungnapakorn...”
“We sincerely apologize to the Swimming Association of Thailand, Bangkok Elite Swim Team, and all of Khaopun’s fans. We never intended to conceal anything but have been coordinating closely with the hospital doctors and the team’s medical staff throughout. Only in the past 2-3 days did her hospital doctor inform us that Khaopun must stop training and undergo immediate surgery to treat her condition before it worsens. Here is the story...”
“Timeline: At the end of July, she began experiencing cheek swelling and jaw pain. She saw a doctor to have a longstanding wisdom tooth removed, but her appointment was delayed. The doctor ordered an X-ray for treatment preparation, but upon seeing the results, the doctor requested a biopsy. The diagnosis was osteosarcoma, a rare type of bone cancer, but it can happen because Khaopun is a very special person.”
“In August, she began treatment and started weekly hospital visits, replacing her usual routine of going only to the pool and university. This has been a difficult time as she has only one semester left to complete her bachelor’s degree, which she planned to finish in 3.0 years. It has been tiring, especially with exams approaching. She has been very strong.”
“Khaopun asked the doctor, ‘Can I still train and compete in the SEA Games? I also have a competition in India next month.’”
“The doctor said she should actually stop training and focus on treatment. Khaopun replied that this event is very important to her and that her younger sister would be competing as well. The doctor responded, ‘Nothing is more important than your health. Let’s see how you respond to the first round of chemotherapy.’”
“In September, she was admitted to the hospital for her first chemotherapy session as a #TeenChemotherapy patient (scheduled for six sessions). The doctor said she was very strong and if she remains so, she can continue training and competing but must take good care of herself before traveling to the Asian Championships. We have coordinated with the association’s medical team because chemotherapy includes steroids, which are stimulants.”
“In October, she traveled to compete in the Asian Championships for SEA Games athletes. Concerned doctors taught her how to self-administer white blood cell-stimulating injections for six days, carrying the medication on the plane. They also advised buying a wig as hair loss was expected in India. She won a silver medal in the women’s 4x100m freestyle relay, with the team posting the second-best split time among all four swimmers. Before returning to Thailand, she bought a Liverpool jersey for her father. At the end of October, she underwent arthroscopic surgery to remove a tumor about the size of a cup. In November, after returning from India, she resumed training with a tailored plan and encouraged her younger sister to perform well at the Bahrain competition, telling her not to worry about her but to take care of herself so they could compete together at the SEA Games. She said, ‘Cancer won’t beat me.’ Her mental strength has been remarkable. Meanwhile, the association’s medical team and hospital doctors have continued to monitor her condition until late October when her cheek swelling worsened, her eye became irritated, she could no longer chew hard food, and her mouth opening became limited. The doctor scheduled a CT scan, which revealed rapid tumor growth under her left eye, leading to the immediate decision to stop training and proceed with surgery.”
“In December, the club and coaches were informed of the diagnosis and treatment plan. Everyone agreed that Khaopun’s health is the top priority. Nothing is more important than her well-being. Events like the SEA Games and Asian Games will continue to be held, and if she recovers, she could come back even stronger. The club contacted the association to withdraw her from competition to ensure the best results for the country. This decision was informed by past experience at the National Youth Games in Phatthalung, where the women’s freestyle relay team from Bangkok missed gold for the first time in history to Pathum Thani. We refuse to let that happen again. We do not do things half-heartedly because doing so would prove we are worse and selfish. We apologize to everyone.”
“However, Khaopun will still compete in the 200m breaststroke on 12 December and the 100m breaststroke on 13 December as planned. Please come support her.”
“You are my great pride, Khaopun. You are so strong. I have always known that you live life to the fullest and make the most of it. I use #MyLifeUseIt as a reminder every year.”