KUCHING, Aug 20 (Bernama) -- National swimmer Bryan Leong Xin Ren made waves at the 2024 Malaysia Games (SUKMA) by smashing the men’s 50m butterfly record twice, en route to clinching the gold medal.
Bryan, a neuroscience and psychology student at King’s College London and representing the Federal Territories (FT), first broke the 10-year-old SUKMA record of 25.13 seconds set by Chan Jie in 2014, clocking 24.81 seconds in the heats.
The 21-year-old swimmer then clinched the gold with a time of 24.46 seconds, though he fell short of improving his national record of 24.08 seconds set at the AP Race London International in May.
Penang’s Chris Chew Vi Min (24.94 seconds) and Johor’s Bernie Lee Elle Yang (25.17 seconds) took second and third place, respectively.
Bryan also contributed to FT’s silver medal in the mixed 4x100m medley relay with teammates Chong Xin Lin, Yu Xiang Cham and Wei Wen Lee, clocking 4:02.20 seconds in the event’s SUKMA debut.
Selangor’s team of Teoh Kar Chuan, Andrew Goh, Lim Shun Qi, and Khew Zi Xian made history as the first gold medalists in the mixed 4x100m medley relay, finishing with a time of 4:00.30 seconds.
Sarawak settled for bronze after Jeff Chua Yu Yang, Hii Puong Wei, Magdalene Lau Ing Siew and Kelly Teo Yao clocked 4:09.15s.
“I was targeting to better my national record, but quite happy to win gold for FT and break the meet record twice. I will try to improve my other national record in the 100m butterfly on Thursday and win another medal in the men’s 4x100m freestyle tomorrow,” Bryan told reporters.
Due to participation limits for athletes who represented the country in the Commonwealth and Asian Games, Bryan, who won five gold and a silver in the previous edition, is competing in two individual events and two relays this time.
Bryan had raced in the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games and last year’s Hangzhou Asian Games.
In other events, Puong Wei set a new men’s 200m backstroke Games record with a time of 2:06.59, while FT’s David Lee Boon Wei (2:11.32) and Aslan Adnan of Selangor (2:11.44) took home silver and bronze, respectively.
FT’s swimmers dominated the pool, winning four gold, three silver and one bronze out of nine gold medals available today. Selangor followed with two gold, three silver and two bronze, Sarawak earned two gold and two bronze and Pahang claimed one gold.
-- BERNAMA
