The Star : Welson swims to equal national record in 200m freestyle

RIO DE JANEIRO: Swimmer Welson Sim managed to equal his national 200m freestyle record at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, but he was hardly overjoyed.

Welson however failed to qualify for the top-16 to reach the semi-finals. - AZHAR MAHFOF / The Star

The 19-year-old clocked 1:47.67 to finish sixth in heat three at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium on Sunday. He set the national mark at the Singapore Age-Group Championships in March.

Welson was hoping to set a new mark here with the stiffer competition, but he failed to do so.

"I am disappointed. I could have done better," said Welson, who finished 26th overall in the 47-man field.

Earlier on Saturday, Welson clocked 3:51.57 and failed to beat his 3:50.33 national record. He was 34th overall in the 50-man field.

Phee Jinq En was the other Malaysian swimmer in action on Sunday and she left the pool in tears in her Olympic debut.

Competing in the women's 100m breaststroke, the 19-year-old clocked 1:10.22 to finish second in heat two. It was way off her national record of 1:08.65 which she achieved at the Malaysian Open in May this year.

It was Jing En's only event here while Welson still has the 1,500m on Aug 12.

The Star : Fast swimmers make fast pools, but science lends a hand

BY ALAN BALDWIN

LONDON (Reuters) - To those who dip into swimming only when the Olympic Games come around, it may seem odd to hear a pool described as 'fast' when it looks much like any other large rectangle filled with water.

And while coaches hammer into their young charges that fast swimmers make fast pools, like swimmers, some pools are faster than others and even Michael Phelps goes quicker with the application of science.

In 2013, after British swimmers had flopped at the London Games and that year's world championships, head coach Bill Furniss suggested Sheffield's Ponds Forge Olympic standard pool was hampering their development because it was too fast.

Cue jokey headlines suggesting swimmers were training in the "wrong kind of water" -- an echo of the "wrong kind of snow/rain/sunshine" excuses familiar to downtrodden commuters when Britain's weather halts the trains.

At the international level, however, the biggest waves are the ones given by the swimmers to the crowd as they climb out.

Rio's new 50-metre Olympic pool, where records may be set as dreams and duels play out, should stand out like a gleaming Ferrari among functional family runabouts.

The technology in such a pool, from energy-absorbing lane dividers and wave-swallowing drainage to the depth and temperature, is all designed to help the world's best swimmers go faster than ever.

"Years and years ago, when pools had gutters on the side and walls, if you were on the outside lane then the waves were splashing back and hitting you," Britain's 4x100 mixed medley world gold medallist Chris Walker-Hebborn told Reuters at an Adidas event.

"That was what I perceived as a slow pool back then.

"Everything we race in now, it (the water) runs off the edge into a drain so you are at no more disadvantage being in lane eight than you are in lane four, other than not being in the middle of the race."

Beijing's 'Water Cube' was dubbed the fastest pool in the world when 25 world records were broken at the 2008 Olympics and various factors contributed to that.

The now-banned drag-reducing high-tech suits, with Phelps using Speedo's LZR bodysuit to win eight golds, were a huge factor but the pool was also wider and significantly deeper than the one used in Athens in 2004.

Unlike Athens, it was also indoors.

That uniform three metre depth, now recommended by world body FINA and considered the norm since Beijing, makes the water more buoyant and less turbulent.

The temperature of the water -- all 3.7 million litres of it -- is kept between 25 and 28 degrees Celsius. Too warm, and the body can over-relax, Too cold, and muscles may tighten.

The Rio Aquatics Stadium, a temporary structure, has had 15,000 strategically positioned holes drilled into it as part of a natural ventilation system.

The lighting, the crowd, the acoustics also all help create an atmosphere that crackles with anticipation and plays into the mental side. In Rio, the front-row seats will be just 10 metres from the action.

British swimmer Adam Peaty, who set a 100 metres breaststroke world record of 57.92 seconds in London last year, said the psychological factor of swimmers going fast because they know the pool is state-of-the-art was not to be underestimated.

"It's more of an idea than a thing; The idea of performing at an Olympics and being one of the best in the world, and that pool is the idea," Peaty said after this year's European championships.

"It sounds very metaphorical, but every time I see that (London) pool I just want to be the best in the world."

(Editing by Greg Stutchbury)

The Star : Swimmer Jinq En plans to set up base in the US after Rio

BY LIM TEIK HUAT

PETALING JAYA: Woman breaststroke specialist Phee Jinq En plans to take things up a notch after the Rio Olympics.

She will head to the United States immediately after the Olympics to pursue higher studies at the Purdue University in Indiana.

The 18-year-old will swim in the 100m breaststroke event in her Olympic debut next month. She hopes that by setting up base in the US after the Games she would be able to go even faster.

The US college swimming scene is very competitive and the country will benefit if Jinq En continues to don national colours.

The next big multi-Games assignment after the Olympics will be the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games in August next year and Jinq En intends to be there.

If her personal best times are of any indication, Jinq En will be her university's top woman breaststroke swimmer. She holds national records for both the 50m (31.66) and 100m (1:08.65) breaststroke events.

“I want to defend my 100m breaststroke title and aim for the 50m gold as well now that it’s included in the SEA Games programme,” said Jinq En, who left for Florida in the United States on Tuesday with fellow Rio Olympic-bound swimmer Welson Sim.

“I definitely have to continue swimming competitively (at the Purdue University) as I’m on a full athletics scholarship.

“It’s going to be a whole new experience for me. The standard in the US is very high.

“The current world No. 1 woman breaststroke specialist Lilly King is from Indiana University. So, I will be racing against her often in the domestic meets.”

Jinq En and Welson will train in Florida for the next 10 days to adapt to the time zone before flying straight to Rio de Janeiro.

Apart from the SEA Games next year, Jinq En also has the Jakarta Asian Games and Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in 2018 in her sights.

“I have yet to swim in both these Games ... so, that’s something I hope to achieve in two years’ time,” she said.

The NST : (Swimming) 101-year-old Japanese aims for more records

BY AFP - 15 JULY 2016 @ 7:39 PM


 NARASHINO: As the world’s top swimmers prepare for the Rio Olympics, a sprightly Japanese centenarian insists she will still be smashing records by the time the 2020 Tokyo Games roll around.

Closing in on her 102nd birthday, Mieko Nagaoka has racked up a slew of jaw-dropping world bests in her age bracket after only taking up swimming in her late eighties, but warns she is not done yet.

“I’m fit as a fiddle,” Nagaoka told AFP in an interview after completing the 400 metres freestyle in 26 minutes, 16.81 seconds at a Japan Masters Swimming Association competition in Chiba, on the outskirts of Tokyo.

“The secret is to eat well and stay active. It’s no good sitting around at my age. I want to keep swimming until I’m 105 – and beyond that,” added the Yamaguchi native, who has lived through 22 Olympics to date.

Nagaoka, who swam the race backstroke sporting a white cap and dashing black and gold swimsuit, finished well over 17 minutes behind the winner, 80-year-old Etsuko Azumi. Hard of hearing,

Nagaoka failed to hear the roar of the crowd after completing the eight-lap race and attempted to return for a ninth before being fished out by judges as nervous medics watched on.

“It was just another race,” smiled Nagaoka after changing into a pink jacket and matching hat.

“Swimming makes me happy, that’s what I love about it,” she added. “When I’m swimming I’m in my own little world.”

Along with 105-year-old sprinter Hidekichi Miyazaki, another geriatric record breaker, Nagaoka is blazing a trail for Japan’s turbo-charged pensioners in a country with one of the world’s highest life expectancies.

Nonetheless, Nagaoka’s time was well outside her world record of 16:36.80 set two years ago. Her rivals had long dried off and were talking by the side of the pool when Nagaoka finally touched to thunderous applause. But she struck a defiant tone.

This photo taken on July 14, 2016 shows 101-year-old Mieko Nagaoka swimming during the women's 400m freestyle race in the Japan Masters swimming competition in Narashino, in suburban Tokyo.Closing in on her 102nd birthday, Mieko Nagaoka has racked up a slew of jaw-dropping world bests in her age bracket after only taking up swimming in her late eighties, but warns she is not done yet. AFP Photo

“I want to keep swimming as fast as I can,” said Nagaoka, who owns world records in the women’s 100-104 age division in nine events, including the 1,500m freestyle – a distance most people of her venerable age would struggle to walk.

“I’ll keep going for as long as I’m alive.”

Born in 1914, days after the outbreak of World War I, when Japan fought on the side of the allies, Nagaoka’s rambunctious lust for life continues to astound her family and coaches.

“Her attitude to life is totally scandalous,” said her 76-year-old son Hiroyuki.

“She refuses to live life by the correct rules. She eats only the finest food and turns her nose up at anything she doesn’t fancy.

“You’re supposed to slow down with age, but she was getting quicker with age in her nineties, breaking record after record,” he added.

“That sense of joy and purpose in life is the secret to her long life.” Nagaoka still trains three times a week in Yamaguchi, southwest Japan, under the tutelage of long-time coach Shintaro Sawada.

“At first I thought she was joking about swimming until 100, but she was deadly serious,” said 41-year-old Sawada.

“I’ve never met anyone like her – she eats when she wants and sleeps when she wants. She has a very stubborn streak and fierce determination.”

Perched beside his mother, the younger Nagaoka beamed with pride. “She’s amazing,” said Hiroyuki.

“Mentally she’s still very sharp. She’s the world’s greatest mum!” --AFP

Read More : http://www.nst.com.my/news/2016/07/158515/swimming-101-year-old-japanese-aims-more-records

The Star : No Sukma for Jinq En, but off to the Olympics!

BY LIM TEIK HUAT

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysia Games (Sukma) in Kuching later this month is off limits to young swimmer Phee Jinq En now that she has made the cut under the Universality spot for the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

Jinq En secured her Olympic ticket in the women's 100m breaststroke after the aquatics governing body, FINA, allocated about 30 places for B qualifiers for the 26 individual events for swimming.

The fact that Singapore, the swimming powerhouse in the region, could not qualify a woman swimmer is an indication of the competitiveness of the sport.

Their top swimmer Quah Ting Wen, who splashed to four golds in the Singapore SEA Games last year, is taking up the wildcard ticket to swim in the 100m butterfly.

Jinq En holds the 100m breaststroke national record of 1:08.65.

“It’s like a dream come true, seriously. I’ve been dreaming about it since I was a kid and everyone just laughed at me when I told them I wanted to go to the Olympics.

“I never thought I’d qualify. Even if you set a good time, there’s no guarantee you’d be able to go,” said Jinq En, who set the 100m breaststroke national record of 1:08.65 at the Malaysian Open in May.

She will join Welson Sim as the two Malaysian swimmers at the Rio Games. Welson qualified under the A category for men’s 200m and 400m freestyle.

Jinq En will now have to give up the chance of a breaststroke double for Selangor at the Sukma in Kuching as national coach Paul Birmingham Thomas plans to take her and Welson to Florida, the United States, next week for training.

“It’s (the Olympics) pretty special for me as I’ll get to see swimming legend Michael Phelps in the last race of his career,” said Jinq En.

“We will train at Fort Lauderdale. We’ll be there to adapt to the time zone before going straight to Rio.

“For the Olympics, if I can swim a personal best, or even close to it, would be good for me.”

With Jinq En confirmed and track sprinter Zaidatul Husniah Zulkifli getting a wildcard to race in the women's 100m, Malaysia will have 32 athletes at the Rio Games.



THE 32 RIO-BOUND ATHLETES 

Khairul Anuar Mohamad, Haziq  Kamaruddin, Muhd Akmal Nor Hasrin (archery); Nauraj Singh Randhawa, Zaidatul Husniah Zulkifli (athletics); Lee Chong Wei, Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong, Tee Jing Yi, Vivian Hoo-Woon Khe Wei, Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying (badminton); Pandelela Rinong, Wendy Ng Yan Yee, Cheong Jun Hoong, Nur Dhabitah Sabri, Ahmad Amsyar Azman, Ooi Tze Liang (diving); Azizulhasni Awang, Fatehah Mustapa (track cycling); Welson Sim, Phee Jinq En, Heidi Gan (swimming); Johnathan Wong Guangjie (shooting); Khairulnizam Mohd Afendy, Nur Shazrin Mohd Latif (sailing); Mohd Hafifi Mansor (weightlifting); Danny Chia, Gavin Kyle Green, Kelly Tan, Michelle Koh (golf).

The Star : Great Phee-ling! Jinq En splashes her way to Olympics

BY LIM TEIK HUAT

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia will have a second swimmer going to the Rio Olympics next month.

The world governing body, FINA, have informed the Amateur Swimming Union of Malaysia (Asum) that woman breaststroke specialist Phee Jinq En has also qualified for the Olympics under category B.

Jinq En is set to join Sarawakian Welson Sim in making their Olympic debut pending confirmation from FINA, who are finalising the list of Olympic qualifiers for the swimming competition, which takes place from Aug 6-13.

Swimming have a total quota of 900 athletes for the Olympics and a country can have two swimmers for each event.  

“FINA informed us that we have one swimmer who has qualified with the fastest-ranked B time.

“We’re awaiting the announcement from FINA.

“We are also waiting to see if Welson wins an extra Olympic spot in the 1500m freestyle.

“He has already made the A time for the 200m and 400m freestyle,” said Asum secretary Mae Chen.

It will be a crowning moment for Jinq En, who has taken women’s breaststroke in Malaysia to new heights since bursting into the limelight at the Singapore SEA Games last year.

Jinq En will join Welson Sim to the Rio Olympic Games.

The Selangor-born swimmer marked her SEA Games debut by taking gold in the women’s 100m breaststroke in Singapore and erased Siow Yi Ting’s national record of 1:09.82, that stood for six years, by clocking 1:09.64 at the World Cup swimming meet in Dubai last November.

Three-time Olympian and the now-retired Yi Ting set the record at the 2009 Laos Sea Games with the now-banned hi-tech swimsuit fabric.

The 18-year-old lowered the national record to 1:08.99 when she returned to Singapore for the national age-group meet there in March.

Jinq En raised the bar to 1:08.65 when she won at the Malaysian Open in Bukit Jalil in May. Although it was outside the Olympic A time of 1:08.75, it was still good enough to put her on board to Rio de Janeiro.

Khoo Cai Lin was the only Malaysian swimmer at the last Olympics in London.

The Star : Olympian Welson draws confidence from Europe stint

BY TAN MING WAI


KUALA LUMPUR: Welson Sim has declared that he’s in the best shape of his life ahead the Rio de Janeiro Games in August.

The 19-year-old said that the two-week stint at the Mare Nostrum Tour in Europe recently had boosted his confidence as he prepares to make his Olympic debut.

Welson showed that he’s no pushover in a world-class field by picking up a silver in the 400m freestyle and bronze in the 200m freestyle in the first leg in Monaco two weeks ago.

Welson meets up with chef de mission Tan Sri Al-Amin Majid at the Aquatics Centre. - S.S.K KANESAN/The Star

He went on to improve on his B time in the men’s 1,500m freestyle, posting 15:32.67 in the Barcelona leg to brighten his hopes of qualifying for his third event in Rio.

“The results from European meets showed that my preparation for the Olympics is on the right track,” Welson said after meeting Malaysia’s Olympic chef de mission Tan Sri Mohd Al-Amin Abdul Majid on Thursday.

“It was a great experience to race against the world’s best swimmers. Now I will head to the Olympics without any fears.

“I’m also in tip-top condition. I want to use the remaining two months to mould myself into even better shape come August.

“I always believe that there is no limit to how fast I can swim. I can only get better.”

Welson  qualified for the Olympics under the A time for the 200m and 400m freestyle events at the Singapore national age-group meet in March.

Doing light training at the aquatics centre.

As for the 1,500m, Welson will have to wait until the middle of next month to learn from FINA, swimming’s world governing body, if his B time is good enough to make the cut.

But it’s the 200m and 400m freestyle that he will be focusing on.

“I will settle nothing less than improving on both my personal bests of 1:47.67 in the 200m freestyle and 3:50.33 in the 400m freestyle (which he clocked in Singapore), which are also the national records,” Welson stressed.



Read more at http://www.thestar.com.my/sport/swimming/2016/06/16/olympian-welson-draws-confidence-from-europe-stint/

The Star : Hope brightens for Welson to enter three events in Rio afterall

BY LIM TEIK HUAT

PETALING JAYA: Welson Sim brightened his hopes of swimming in a third Olympic event after improving on his B time in the men’s 1,500m freestyle.

The 19-year-old clocked a personal best 15:32.67 to finish seventh in the final leg of the Mare Nostrum Tour in Barcelona, Spain, on Sunday. The B Olympic qualifying time for 1,500m is 15:46.79 and Welson posted 15:35.63 at the Malaysian Open last month.

Britain’s Stephen Milne clocked 15:12.33 to take the gold. Marcelo Acosta of El Salvador finished second in 15:15.20 while Britain’s Timothy Shuttleworth clocked 15:16.09 for third place.

In the first leg in Monaco a week ago, Welson won the silver in the 400m freestyle and bronze in the 200m freestyle.

He was forced to pull out of the second leg in Canet-en-Roussillon, France, last Wednesday because of flu.

Swimmers who made the B cut will know from FINA, swimming’s world governing body, by the middle of next month if they qualify for the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in August.

Welson is already assured of competing in Rio as he made the A cut for the 200m and 400m freestyle at the Singapore National Age-Group Championships in March.

Also on Sunday, Singapore SEA Games gold medallist Phee Jinq En gave another consistent performance to win the women’s 100m breaststroke B final in 1:09.41.

The 18-year-old Jinq En, who posted a new national record of 31.66 to win the 50m breaststroke gold in Monaco, made the B final after she finished 11th overall in 1:10.18. Team-mate Erika Kong was placed 30th after clocking 1:14.06 in the heats.

Wong Fu Kang posted 29.63 for 21st spot in the men’s 50m breaststroke while Khoo Cai Lin was 14th overall in the women’s 400m freestyle after clocking 4:21.57.


Read more at http://www.thestar.com.my/sport/swimming/2016/06/13/welson-has-a-chance-to-enter-three-events-in-rio-afterall/

The Star : Swimmer Kevin’s Olympic dream is dashed

BY LIM TEIK HUAT

PETALING JAYA: Kevin Yeap will not be joining Heidi Gan in the 10km open water swimming event at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in August.

The 27-year-old Kevin could only clock 2’02:09.10 to settle for 48th place in the men’s Olympic qualifying tournament at Setubal Bay, Portugal, on Sunday.

Zu Lijun of China won the 61-man competition in 1’52:18.20 with Germany’s Christian Reichert (1’52:20.40) second and Ecuador’s Ivan Enderica Ochoa (1’52:22.60) third.

A total of 15 spots were up for grabs with the top 10 gaining direct entry and five more available for the top continental finishers.

Kevin found it hard to match the other established swimmers as it was only his first competitive open water tournament since winning the bronze at the 2011 Indonesian SEA Games.

But credit to Kevin, a former SEA Games gold medallist and national 400m freestyle record holder, as he was one of the 53 competitors to cross the finish line.

On Saturday, Heidi secured her second straight Olympic appearance by finishing 18th to grab the continental berth allotted for Asia.

Read more at http://www.thestar.com.my/sport/swimming/2016/06/13/swimmer-kevin-olympic-dream-is-dashed/

The Star : Heidi books her ticket to Rio Games at Setubal Bay

BY TAN MING WAI

PETALING JAYA: National open water swimmer Heidi Gan will be making her second Olympic appearance at the Rio de Janeiro Games.

The 27-year-old secured her spot for the August Games after claiming a creditable 18th place finish in the 48-competitor Olympic Qualifying tournament at the Setubal Bay, Portugal on Saturday.

The Indonesia SEA Games double gold medallist finished the 10km race in an impressive time of 1'57:41.2 and it was enough for her punch her ticket as the top Asian finisher outside of the top 10.

China's Xin Xin pipped two-time world champion Keri-Anne Payne of Great Britain by 0.8 seconds for the top spot in 1'55:12.1.

Samantha Arevalo of Ecuador posted 1'55:15.9 to settle for third.

“I was so emotional after the race. Six weeks ago I was barely able to swim due to a shoulder injury,” said Heidi when contacted in Portugal.

“The race was brutal. The sea was rough and the competition was tough.

“I gave everything I had. I’m so proud I managed to qualify for the Olympics again,” said Heidi.

It was a remarkable achievement for Heidi as she’s not a full-time athlete.

Graduated with a law degree from the University of Western Australia in 2014, Heidi now works as a paralegal at a firm in Perth.

In her maiden Olympic appearance in London, Heidi finished a creditable 16th out of 25 swimmers.

A total of 25 swimmers will again compete in the Rio de Janeiro Olympics from Aug 5-21.


Source http://www.thestar.com.my/sport/swimming/2016/06/12/heidi-books-her-ticket-to-rio-at-setubal-bay/

The Star : Jinq En revelling in the presence of swim idol in Barcelona

BY LIM TEIK HUAT


PETALING JAYA: Swimmer Phee Jinq En finished a creditable seventh in her third straight women’s 50m breaststroke A final appearance on the Mare Nostrum Tour in Europe.

The 18-year-old Malaysian clocked 31.99 in the Tour’s final leg in Barcelona, Spain, on Saturday. In a world class field, Jinq En finished ahead of Japan’s 200m breaststroke world champion Kanako Watanabe who posted 32.09.

Ruta Meilutyte of Lithuania, the world and Olympic gold medallist, touched home in 29.98 for the gold while Britain’s Sarah Vasey took the silver in 30.79. Jennie Johansson of Sweden clocked 30.98 for the bronze.

Earlier in the heats, Jinq En posted the seventh fastest time of 32.04 to reach the final.

“I’ve come from admiring my idol (Meilutyte) so much to racing with her in the final in an event where she holds the world record. Achievement unlocked,” tweeted Jing En.

She posted a new national record of 31.66 en route to taking the gold in the 50m breaststroke in the opening leg in Monaco last week.

Jinq En was placed fourth in 31.69 in the second leg in Canet-en-Roussillon, France, on Thursday.

Team-mate Erika Kong also competed in Barcelona. She was placed 31st in the 50m breaststroke (34.32) and 27th in the 200m breaststroke (2:40.05).

Olympic-bound Welson Sim was seventh in the men’s 400m freestyle A final in 3:52.58.

Singapore SEA Games gold medallist Wong Fu Kang’s campaign ended early after he could only manage 1:04.11 for 29th spot in the 100m breaststroke heats.


Read at http://www.thestar.com.my/sport/swimming/2016/06/12/phee-jinq-en-seventh-in-mare-nostrum-tour-barcelona/

The Star : Kevin heads to open water after hitting barrier in the pool

BY TAN MING WAI


PETALING JAYA: National swimmer Kevin Yeap is ready to “go the distance” to qualify for the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games in August.

The 25-year-old long distance specialist has turned his attention to the 10km open water race after giving up hopes of securing qualification in his two pet events – the 400m and 1,500m freestyle.

Kevin will be among the 68 men vying for the remaining 15 berths on offer at the Olympic Qualifier in Setubal, Portugal, on Sunday.

Kevin, who has been with the national team for almost 10 years, explained that his lacklustre performance in the last two years had prompted him to make the switch.

“I’ve not been able to go any faster since 2014,” said Kevin in a telephone interview from Setubal.

“There’s no way I’m going to make the cut in the 400m and 1,500m freestyle. So, I decided to switch to marathon swimming not long ago to keep my Olympic dreams alive.

“I don’t know what my chances are here, but I have to be confident because if I don’t try, nothing is going to happen.

“After all, I’m looking beyond this week. I have come all the way to Portugal ... because it’s also part of my preparation for next year’s SEA Games,” added the Ipoh-born athlete.

Kevin, however, is not entirely unfamiliar with Open water race, having won a bronze in the event at the 2011 Palembang SEA Games – the same year that he also won the 400m freestyle title.

Kevin was once a national record holder for the 400m freestyle with a time of 3:53.26. It stood for more than two years before it was broken by Welson Sim.

His other notable achievement was clocking a personal best 15:31.67 for a creditable fifth placing in the 1,500m freestyle at the 2014 Incheon Asian Games. It was the closest he got to Jeffrey Ong's long-standing national record of 15:23.61 set at the World University Games in Sheffield, England, in 1991.

The Star : Welson aims to break Jeffrey Ong's 25-year record in France

BY LIM TEIK HUAT

Welson has a personal best of 15:35.63 in the 1,500m freestyle.

PETALING JAYA: A better-prepared Welson Sim will take a shot at erasing the oldest national swimming record held by former Asian Games silver medallist Jeffrey Ong in the 1,500m freestyle when he swims in the Mare Nostrum meets in Canet-en-Roussillon, France, on Thursday and in Barcelona, Spain, this weekend.

Jeffrey’s mark has stood for 25 years.

The 1,500m freestyle was not on the programme in the first meet of the Mare Nostrum Tour in Monaco.

Welson splashed to silver in the 400m freestyle in 3:50.66, just slightly off his national record of 3:50.40, and added a bronze in the 200m freestyle, which was won by world record holder Paul Biedermann of Germany.

The 19-year-old Welson made clear his intentions of going after Jeffrey’s record – 15:23.61 set in 1991 – by clocking a personal best of 15:35.63 at the Malaysian Open last month.

Sarawak-born Welson’s time dipped below the B Olympic mark of 15:46.79, but it’s the A qualifying time of 15:14.77 that he’s going after.

Welson is guaranteed to swim in the 200m and 400m freestyle races in Rio de Janeiro after making the A cut at the Singapore national age-group meet in March.

Welson and woman breaststroke specialist Phee Jinq En underwent a two-week training stint in Melbourne, Australia, before leaving for the Mare Nostrum Tour.

“They worked on their endurance. It was difficult to get into Australia as they have tightened their rules. China swimmers used to go there but, after the drug issues with Sun Yang (of China), Australia no longer entertains foreign swimmers,” said Paul Birmingham.

“We were lucky as I know the coach in Melbourne and we managed to get the clearance to train there. Welson trained with Mack Horton, who is the world No. 1 ranked swimmer in the 1,500m this year.

“I don’t know whether Welson can get the A time, but he has a chance to get a personal best ... then we’ll see whether it’s good enough to take him to the Olympics,” added the Australian coach.

The second leg of the Mare Nostrum will see a glittering cast of Olympic and World Championships medallists competing. They include Hungary’s Hosszu Katinka, South Africa’s Chad Le Clos and Cameron van der Burgh, Japan’s Kosuke Hagino and Britain’s Guy James.


Read at http://www.thestar.com.my/sport/swimming/2016/06/07/welson-sim-eyes-jeffrey-ong-1500-record-in-france/

The Star : Jinq En swims to historic gold in Monaco

BY LIM TEIK HUAT

PETALING JAYA: Teenager Phee Jinq En made swimming history for Malaysia after powering to gold in the women’s 50m breaststroke event at the Mare Nostrum Tour in Monaco.

The 18-year-old came out tops in a head-to-head duel with World Championship finalist Marina Garcia Urzainqui of Spain on Sunday evening, posting 31.66 to smash her own national record of 31.80 set at the World Cup meet in Dubai last November.

The Spanish swimmer clocked 32.51 for the silver. Jinq En and Urzainqui were the finalists after clocking 31.99 and 32.18 in the semi-final heat.

The 50m breaststroke is part of the Speed Tournament (also for the 50m freestyle, butterfly and backstroke races).

Jinq En is the first Malaysian to make the top of the podium in a European swimming meet and is, undeniably, delighted to go one better after taking silver in the 100m breaststroke on Saturday.

Altogether, she swam five 50m races over two days.

“I didn’t expect this timing, this was my fifth sprinting race in two days, plus I had to swim two 100m and another 200m breaststroke in the morning. So, basically I was burnt out.

“But once I put on my goggles and dived in the water, I just sprinted to the finish,” said Jinq En, the SEA Games gold medallist in Singapore last year.

There was more joy as Rio Olympic-bound Welson Sim clinched bronze in the company of world-class opposition in the 200m freestyle A final.

The 19-year-old posted 1:49.29 to take bronze ahead of South Africa’s Devon Brown, who finished in 1:49.67.

Olympic and Commonwealth champion Chad Le Clos of South Africa just beat Welson to the silver in 1:49.28.

Paul Biedermann of Germany, the world record holder in the event, took gold in 1:46.71.

Welson took silver in the 400m freestyle on Saturday.

Wong Fu Kang and Erika Kong made the B finals for men’s 100m breaststroke and women’s 200m breaststroke and finished seventh (1:04.79) and third (2:39.53).

The next two meets are in Canet-en-Roussillon, France (June 8-9) and in Barcelona, Spain (June 11-12).

The Star : Welson and Jinq En on the podium in Monaco

BY LIM TEIK HUAT

PETALING JAYA: Youngsters Welson Sim and Phee Jinq En kicked up a storm for Malaysia in their first participation in the prestigious Mare Nostrum Tour swim meet in Monaco.

Rio Olympic-bound Welson, despite feeling the effects of jet lag, snatched a silver in the men’s 400m freestyle A with an impressive time of 3:50:66 on Saturday.

It’s the second fastest time the 19-year-old has posted in the 400m freestyle. His fastest was the national record of 3:50.33 which he posted at the Singapore national age-group meet in March to dip under the Olympic A qualifying time of 3:50.40.

South African Devon Brown held off Welson on the last lap to clinch the gold in 3:49.96.

Eighteen-year-old Jinq En was not to be outdone either, making the podium in the women’s 100m breaststroke.

Jinq En clocked 1:09.18 for silver in the women’s 100m breaststroke A final behind Canadian Kierra Smith, who won in 1:08.94.

Another Malaysian swimmer, Erika Kong, was seventh in the B final with 1:13.93.

Jinq En made the A final with the fifth fastest time of 1:11.02 earlier before stepping up the pace.

Welson also swam the 100m freestyle but finished eighth in the A final in 51.16.

The swimmers made the trip to Europe three days ago and coach Paul Birmingham Thomas was pleased with their performances.

“It was a good outing for our swimmers although they’re still tired from the travelling,” he said.

“Welson’s last 200m was very strong. The goal was for him to take it a little faster on the first 200m. But he still felt heavy from travel, so we reverted to the old race plan.”

Jinq En had a heavier workload on Saturday as she took part in the Speed Tournament (only for the 50m breaststroke, freestyle, butterfly and backstroke races).

She topped the timesheets throughout the preliminary, last-16 and quarter-finals for the women’s 50m breaststroke.

The Singapore SEA Games 100m breaststroke gold medallist stopped the clock twice at 31.83 in the preliminary and quarter-finals.

Erika’s campaign came to an end after she was placed 11th in the last-16 (33.45).

“Jinq En swam three 50m breaststroke races and two over 100m distances ... but she managed them well,” said Birmingham.

Hungary’s Katinka Hosszu, Zimbabwe’s Kirsty Coventry and Chad Le Clos of South Africa are among the Olympic gold medallists competing at the first stop of the Mare Nostrum Tour.

The next two meets are in Canet-en-Roussillon, France (June 8-9) and in Barcelona, Spain (June 11-12).

The Star : No logo - Paralympians still face tattoo ban, main Games less strict

BY KAROLOS GROHMANN

BERLIN (Reuters) - Olympic athletes with tattoos are unlikely to be barred from the Rio Games, the International Olympic Committee said on Friday after a Paralympic swimmer with his team logo inked onto his chest was banned from a race.

British gold medallist Josef Craig was disqualified from a race at last week's IPC European Championships after failing to cover up the tattoo: the team's lion's head design above the Olympic rings.

The International Paralympic Committee said he had breached a rule stating "body advertisements are not allowed in any way whatsoever (this includes tattoos and symbols)."

It said Craig was displaying a logo of an event he was not competing in. The Paralympic Games are governed by a completely separate organisation from the IOC and have their own logo.

Many champion athletes, including record gold medallists Michael Phelps, Missy Franklin and Ryan Lochte, have Olympic tattoos, and the IPC's ruling, three months before Rio, raised fears of potential bans.

But while any tattoos that advertise a product will need to be covered up - with blank tape or patches - in Rio, athletes at the main Games will be allowed to show others, an IOC spokesman said.

"The president is always excited to see athletes with the Olympic Rings," an IOC spokesman said. "Standing alone, the Olympic Rings are a great expression of appreciation of the Olympic Games and of the Olympic values."

"COMMON SENSE"

"We take a common sense approach to tattoos whatever they are," he said.

That would mean personal tattoos such as the butterfly-covered back of Russian synchronised swimmer Anastasia Davydova at the 2012 London Games would be allowed.

For Paralympians though, the rules are tougher and Craig will have to cover his tattoo.

"The same rule would apply at the Paralympics in Rio. He would have to cover it up as Craig did for the remainder of the competition last week." IPC spokesman Craig Spence said.

One athlete who will be forced to cover up if he qualifies for the Olympics is American middle distance runner Nick Symmonds, who sells space on his skin for advertising.

The two-time Olympian, who covered up his tattoos during the 2012 Olympics, sold nine inches on his arm for $21,800 on Friday to the head of T-Mobile US, a rival of AT&T, an official sponsor of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic teams.

Symmonds said the U.S. Olympic Committee's and the IOC's rules banning advertising in venues and promotion by athletes during the Games was "antiquated".

"AT&T spends millions to be an official USOC sponsor. T-Mobile spends $21,800 for better exposure. Your ancient model is broken USOC!," Symmonds tweeted.

T-Mobile CEO John Legere said he had not yet decided what to inscribe on the runner's arm.

"Now that I’ve purchased a spot on 2x Olympian, @NickSymmonds’ arm, help me decide what the tattoo should be of! GO!," he asked followers on Twitter.

(Editing by Robin Pomeroy)