Doha: HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani, President of both the Olympic Council of Asia and the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC), crowned the winners of the swimming events on Thursday at the 4th GCC Games Doha 2026. Qatar extended its lead in the swimming competition after winning multiple gold medals and setting new Gulf records on Thursday at the Hamad Aquatic Center. According to Qatar News Agency, the Qatari team secured gold in the men's 4x200m freestyle relay with a new Gulf record time of 7:29.22. Kuwait claimed silver, while Saudi Arabia took bronze. Qatari swimmer Saad Al Din Sami continued his impressive form by winning gold in the 200m freestyle, setting another Gulf record with a time of 1:49.59. Fellow Qatari Ali Tamer finished second to secure silver, ahead of Kuwait's Saud Al Shamroukh in third place. In the 100m breaststroke, Mohammed Mahmoud claimed gold with a Gulf record time of 1:03.10, finishing ahead of Bahrain's Saud Ghali and Saudi Arabia's Imad Zain. Bahrain's Robert Ponsal won gold i n the 400m individual medley, with Qatar's Emil Fawzi taking silver. In the 50m butterfly, Bahrain's Mikhail Arkhangelskiy secured gold, while Qatar's Tamim Al Humaidah earned silver. Following the third day of competition, Qatar's swimming team has amassed 18 medals overall, including 11 gold, six silver, and one bronze. This achievement maintains their position at the top of the swimming standings in Doha.