Story by Rebecca Yip, Nicole Lum and Nicholina Chua/Red Sports. Photos by Jerald Ang/Red Sports
Amanda Lim won her 4th consecutive 50m free title in a new Games Record of 25.59s. (Photo 1 © Jerald Ang/Red Sports)
OCBC Aquatic Centre, Thursday, June 11, 2015 — Team Singapore ended their swimming campaign on a high with four gold, two silver and two bronze medals today. This brought the total medal count over six days to 23 gold, 12 silver and seven bronze medals – two better than their previous record haul of 21 gold medals at the 1973 Southeast Asian Peninsular Games.
Amanda Lim and Quah Ting Wen gave the team their first one-two of the evening in the 50m freestyle. Amanda, who qualified in 5th, out-touched compatriot Ting Wen by 0.01s. She clocked 25.59 seconds to Ting Wen’s 26.60s. Both swimmers went under Amanda’s 2013 Games record of 25.69s.
Amanda was ecstatic about defending her 50m freestyle title and establishing a new Games Record. She said, “I have three relay gold medals, so having an individual gold medal is awesome. I made my stand in Southeast Asia once again as the fastest woman (in this event) and I’m glad I did it.”
She dedicated the win to her coach, David Lim, who is retiring from coaching. “I’ve been with him for four years and he’s like a second father to me… He is a man of few words, but I can say that he really wanted to win tonight and I’m glad that I could get this medal for him at the end of his career.”
The second one-two for Singapore came in the last women’s race at these Games. Tao Li swam to Singapore’s 22nd gold medal in the 100m butterfly. She clocked 59.79s, finishing almost a body length ahead of Ting Wen who swam a time of 1:00.30.
It was a closely-watched race as Vietnam’s golden girl, Nguyen Thih Anh Vien, had previously signalled her intention to beat Tao Li in her own pet event. Tao Li prevailed in the end, punching the water with her fists in jubilation when she realised that she had won. An upset Nguyen placed 6th with a time of 1.01.53.
Immediately after this race, swimming legend Ang Peng Siong rang a bell 22 times to loud cheers from the spectators. He had announced at the start of the evening that he would do so once the 22nd gold medal was won.
Tao Li used this win to answer her toughest critics. “Last night, a lot of the people were asking me about the Vietnamese girl who wanted to beat me. A lot of people were questioning because she had such good form. So when I touched the wall, I felt kind of relieved that I did it and proved to myself that in butterfly, nobody can touch me,” she said.
“A lot of people had doubts about my altitude training in Kunming, to say that I should be training in Singapore. I proved that when I go overseas and whatever decision that I make, it’s the right one,” Tao Li added.
Earlier in the evening, Quah Zheng Wen picked up his 11th medal – and his 7th gold – at these Games with a blazing 25.27s swim in the men’s 50m backstroke, as he set new Games and National Open Records. His win meant he won gold in all three backstroke events at these Games, the first time a Singaporean had done so. Teammate Zach Ong clocked a personal best (PB) of 26.26s, but finished out of the medals in sixth place.
To round off a phenomenal campaign, the men’s 4x100m medley relay team blew the rest of the field away to win in 3:38.25, even as a technical glitch threatened to delay the start of the race. Their time bettered the Games and National Open Records by more than five seconds, and their win ensured that Singapore swept all six relay golds on offer.
Quah Zheng Wen gave the men a 3/4-body length lead at the changeover, and Lionel bravely held off 50m breaststroke champion Indra Gunawan to maintain their lead at the halfway mark. Once Joseph Schooling dived in for the third leg, they knew the race was theirs for the taking. And when Clement Lim took to the pool for the last leg, there was no doubt that they would win, as he eventually finished three body lengths ahead of Triady Fauzi Sidiq of Indonesia.
Later, in a symbolic moment during the medal presentation ceremony, the team received their Nila toys from David Lim, Oon Jin Teik, Ang Peng Siong and Oon Jin Gee – members of the men’s medley relay team that competed at the 1984 Olympics.
With this win, Joseph Schooling bagged nine gold medals in nine events to equal Joscelin Yeo’s record of number of golds won in one Games, a feat she achieved at the 1993 edition.
For Clement Lim, the win was especially sweet. “Winning the relay was really special, because I was in the team that swam this race in the past three (editions of the SEA Games), and all those times we lost to Indonesia.”
When responding to queries on his future in competitive swimming, after the men’s 4x100m freestyle relay team had hinted on Tuesday at this being Clement’s last relay, Clement said, “(My retirement) is still indefinite for now. I really have to see, because my body still has injuries. I have gone for two surgeries for my back problems, so I have to see how it holds up over the next few months, and see whether I can cope with school as well.”
In the other events swum this evening, Pang Sheng Jun picked up his second individual medal at these Games with a bronze in the men’s 400m freestyle. He clocked a new PB of 3:47.60. Teammate Danny Yeo finished last in a time of 4:04.64, and was visibly upset as he punched the wall after his race.
“After winning my first individual medal two days ago, it gave me the confidence to do well today. So all I wanted to do was give it my all for Singapore in my last race, and I’m glad I was able to get a medal,” said Sheng Jun on his stellar result after failing to medal at the past three Games.
Sheng Jun attributed a great part of his success to the overwhelming support from the spectators. “I want to thank all the Singaporeans who came down to cheer for us. I think it really makes a difference and I could really hear their cheers echoing in the stadium. It was a really nice feeling.”
Ever since Sergio Lopez’s introduction in January, the National Team has benefited tremendously from his team bonding initiatives. “I think it’s the strongest team we’ve ever had… that motivates us to do well because we know that we have our teammates behind us. Hopefully we can continue this for the next few competitions to come,” concluded Sheng Jun.
Samantha Yeo finished third in the 200m breaststroke in a time of 2:36.60 behind Vietnamese sensation Nguyen Thi Anh Vien and Phiangkhwan Pawapotako from Thailand. They clocked 2:31.16 and 2:31.51 respectively. Nguyen’s time was also a new Games Record. Singapore’s other representative Christie Chue did not qualify for the final. She swam 2:41.86 to finish 5th in her heat.
“I have to admit that I didn’t feel very good when I jumped into the water. But I’m pretty satisfied with the bronze medal even though I was hoping for something better and to beat my previous position of third,” Samantha said. “I’m definitely still really glad that I was able to podium and do something for Singapore.”
Samantha is currently US-based and is studying at the University of Michigan. “It’s a completely different environment there… the thing is I really enjoy the camaraderie and the positivity that every member brings to the team. That was the biggest change there because everyone train, race and study together,” explained Samantha. “It was a very cohesive environment and it helped me a lot.”
In the only event of the evening where Singapore failed to medal, Clement Lim and Lionel Khoo clocked times of 28.74s and 28.94s respectively to finish 4th and 7th in the men’s 50m breaststroke. The race was won by Indonesian Indra Gunawan in a time of 28.27s.
Speaking of her team’s strong showing over six days of competition, Singapore’s flag-bearer Quah Ting Wen said, “I think we made good memories as a team… It’s exciting for the rookies to have this as their first SEA Games because now they know that this is what it should be like to be a team, so that they can carry it on… no matter where SEA Games is in the future, they can bring this team camaraderie.”
Day 6 (Finals only)
Men’s 50m breaststroke: Clement Lim 28.74s (4th), Lionel Khoo 28.94s (7th)
Women’s 50m freestyle: Amanda Lim 25.59s (Gold, Games Record), Quah Ting Wen 25.60s (Silver)
Men’s 50m backstroke: Quah Zheng Wen 25.27s (Gold, Games Record, National Open Record, PB), Zach Ong 26.26s (6th)
Women’s 200m breaststroke: Samantha Yeo 2:35.60 (Bronze)
Men’s 400m freestyle: Pang Sheng Jun 3:57.60 (Bronze, PB), Danny Yeo 4:04.64 (8th)
Women’s 100m butterfly: Tao Li 59.79s (Gold), Quah Ting Wen 1:00.30 (Silver)
Men’s 4x100m medley relay: Quah Zheng Wen, Lionel Khoo, Joseph Schooling, Clement Lim 3:38.25 (Gold, Games Record, National Open Record)
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