WA Sports Star Finalist Kyle Lee Excels When Conditions Get Tough
Some athletes falter when faced with adversity, but for West Australian open water swimmer Kyle Lee, challenging conditions are where he truly shines. The SportWest 2025 Sport Star Award nominee has proven that his performance elevates when the going gets tough, as demonstrated in his remarkable bronze medal achievement at last year's World Aquatics Championships.
Conquering Extreme Conditions in Singapore
The 23-year-old from Australind faced one of his most demanding tests during the 10km open water event at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships in Singapore. With water temperatures soaring above 30 degrees Celsius off Sentosa Island, Lee had to dig deep to secure his place on the podium.
In a thrilling finish that showcased his strategic racing ability, Lee stormed home in the final stages to edge out Germany's Oliver Klemet by a mere ten-hundredths of a second. This bronze medal represents the finest achievement of his burgeoning career to date.
Lee, who also excels in pool swimming, revealed to The West Australian that he actually welcomes the unpredictable nature of open water competition. "When I heard it was going to be a tough swim like that, it probably made me a bit more excited, knowing it would play to my strengths a bit more," he confessed.
The young athlete explained his preparation approach for such extreme conditions: "Going into the event, we tried to prepare for the heat as much as we could. We used the sauna and we had a training camp in Darwin to get as used as we could to those conditions."
Sharing the Podium With Swimming Legends
Standing on the podium alongside open water swimming icons Florian Wellbrock and Gregorio Paltrinieri – who collectively boast Olympic gold medals and twenty World Championships event wins – was a particularly memorable moment for Lee.
"To come away with that result was really, really pleasing," he reflected. "I'm still trying to wrap my head around it. Growing up, I always dreamed about competing against some of those athletes. To be competing against them was such a special feeling."
Dominant Performances on Home Soil
Lee's successful year began with an impressive showing at the Australian Open Water Swimming Championships in Busselton, located just kilometres from where he grew up near Bunbury. He dominated the competition, claiming victory in both the men's 10km and 5km open events while also contributing to a winning mixed 4x1.25km relay team.
Having a national-level event staged in his home region added extra significance to the achievement. "It just means that I have a lot more friends and family come down for the event," Lee explained. "Seeing all the people that have supported me along my journey and helped me to achieve the things that I have, it just makes the event a lot more special."
Looking Ahead to Pan Pacific Games and Beyond
After starting 2026 with another commanding performance at the Australian Open Water Swimming Championships in Bunbury, Lee has now turned his attention toward qualifying for October's Pan Pacific Games. The open water swimming events will be held off California's Long Beach – the exact location scheduled for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
While Lee made his Olympic debut in the much-discussed River Seine during the 2024 Paris Games, finishing 13th in the 10km marathon swim, he acknowledges that another Olympic campaign requires careful planning. The Pan Pacific Games present ideal preparation for future challenges.
"Gaining that experience there is going to be so important," Lee emphasized. "The Olympics is such a different event to anything else I've done. If I can use that experience to try and get a good result, that would be incredibly rewarding."
As he continues to develop his career, Kyle Lee represents the resilience and determination that characterizes Western Australia's sporting talent. His ability to thrive under pressure and in difficult conditions suggests that more podium finishes may be in his future as he prepares for upcoming international competitions.
