Youth Olympic Swimming: Amanda Lim clocks season’s best in 50 metres Freestyle final

By Koh Yizhe/Red Sports. Photos by Low Sze Sen/Red Sports

Singapore Sports School, Friday, August 20, 2010 — Singaporean Amanda Lim was the host’s only representative at the evening finals on the last day of the Youth Olympic Games swimming competition. Racing in the 50 metres Freestyle final she failed to claim a medal against tough opposition from China and France but clocked a season’s best time of 26.05 seconds to finish sixth.

“Very relieved and happy!” said Amanda when asked how she felt after the race. “Relieved that everything is over and happy because I did personal best of the season. And without the super fast swimsuit!”

Amanda is the national record holder in this event and was only Singapore’s second representative in an individual final. After Rainer Ng’s silver medal-winning performance in the 50m Backstroke, all eyes were on her to see if she would repeat the feat.

With Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong part of the cheering crowd, the 17-year-old did not let the pressure get to her. Coming into the final as the sixth qualifier, Amanda was fourth off the blocks. She dropped to sixth eventually but maintained her position throughout the race. She finished 0.65 seconds behind China’s Tang Yi and France’s Anna Santamans who both clocked times of 25.40s to share the gold medal.

“I’m satisfied with my timing,” said Amanda. “Before the race, I was telling myself that I’ve done everything I could already, so I should just put my head down and go for it! Everyone in the team had all finished their events so they gave me their support by coming early to watch me swim.”

Amanda definitely had a long week with 12 events and two finals, but for her, the highlight was just getting back to competition fitness.

“YOG is a six-day competition and it is probably one of the longest tournaments I’ve done. I didn’t train much after the South-East Asian (SEA) Games and the fact that I am back in competition shape is my highlight of the YOG. This meet was a preparation for Asian Games and I’m just glad that I am back in shape.”

“Although I’ve been to other international competitions, this is the first time I’ve been to such a high-level international tournament. I’ve never been to a tournament where competitors are the same age and yet so fast!” the 2009 South-East Asian Games gold medalist added.

Click here to download final results for Youth Women’s 50m freestyle.