The Spain and Ireland swimmers who grew up in Singapore
These swimmers represent Spain and Ireland at the World Aquatics Championships. They have another thing in common - they spent their formative years in host country Singapore.
Carmen Weiler Sastre’s family moved to Singapore when she was just one. Now 20 and Spain's 100m backstroke national record holder, she says it’s “surreal” to be back.
Cassin moved to Singapore at the age of nine after his mother got a job here - and stayed for 10 years. Now 21, he holds Ireland’s national record in the men's 400m individual medley.
Cassin and Weiler Sastre have known each other since their Singapore days. They say the country has played a role in their growth as athletes.
Weiler Sastre now studies at Virginia Tech in the US and trains under Sergio Lopez, the former coach of Singapore's only Olympic champion Joseph Schooling.
"It's really special for me to come back and compete in front of my friends and family. I really enjoyed growing up in Singapore ... I would say this is my home," Weiler Sastre says.
