Bernama : Welson Sim sets new record on last day of swimming at Sea Games

Young Malaysian swimmer Welson Sim broke the dominance of Singaporean swimmers at the OCBC Aquatic Centre on the final day of the 28th SEA Games swimming competition, in Singapore tonight to win the 400m Freestyle gold medal.

Welson Sim Wee Sheng of Malaysia celebrates after winning the men's 400m freestyle swimming final at the 28th Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) in Singapore. – AFP pic, June 11, 2015. 

The 18-year-old swimmer, who clocked three minutes and 53.97 seconds, rewrote Daniel Bego's SEA Games record of 3:53.99s set at 2009 SEA Games in Vientiane, Laos in the men's 400m Freestyle event.

His timing was just a whisker away from equaling the national record of 3:53.26s held by Kevin Yeap and set at the Malaysian Open Swimming Championships in 2013.

"It was a great swim. The time was close to my personal best (3:53.91s) set at the last Malaysian Open (in March). Daniel also congratulated me. Although I feel a little tired, I am very happy. This is my first SEA Games gold medal," said the Kuching-born swimmer.

He won a bronze medal in the 200m Freestyle event on the opening day of the competition.

In his first SEA Games in Myanmar two years ago, Welson Sim only managed a bronze in the 1,500m event.

His next task would be the FINA World Championships 2015 in Kazan, Russia from July 24 to August 16.

"I just want to better my personal best. I will be competing in the 200m and 400m freestyle," said the Sarawakian.

Malaysian swimmers ended their campaign with three gold, four silver and four bronze medals. – Bernama, June 11, 2015.

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