Diver Ken Nee Makes Swan Song Where He First Created History

PALEMBANG: It was in Indonesia that Yeoh Ken Nee made history as the first Malaysian diver to bag a medal in diving at the Jakarta SEA Games in 1997.

Now, 14 years later, Ken Nee could not have chosen a better place to bid farewell to the Games.

He retained the men’s 3m springboard title for Malaysia at the Jakabaring Aquatic Centre yesterday for his 15th SEA Games gold medal.

Ken Nee completed the six-dive discipline with 485.15 points to leave Indonesian Ahmad Jamjani trailing in his wake on 401.85.

High achievers: The Malaysian diving team rejoicing during a photo session yesterday after they won seven out of eight gold medals.

Ahmad Amsyar came back in the last two dives to secure the bronze for Malaysia with 397.30 points.

The 28-year-old Ken Nee had decided that Palembang would be his swan song.

“I think eight SEA Games is enough.

“I’m not getting any younger and it’s taxing to go through the intensity of training,

“It’s getting harder for my body to recover fast,” said Ken Nee.

“I’m glad I’ve never failed to deliver the gold medal each time I competed in the springboard.”

Ken Yee said he had seen the Filipino divers as the biggest threat yesterday as they had improved after training in China.

“But they made mistakes and that made it easier for me. I hope the next one after me will keep the gold medal in Malaysian hands,” he said.

Ken Nee made his Games debut at just 12 years old in Chiang Mai 1995 before taking the bronze in the 10m platform in Jakarta two years later.

He became the first Malaysian gold medallist in the sport in Brunei 1999.

“I will continue to dive as I have qualified for the London Olympics but I’m keen to take up a coaching role after that.

“I want to thank all my coaches as they are the ones who made me what I am today,” said Ken Nee, who has also delivered medals in the Asian and Commonwealth Games.