PALEMBANG: Yeoh Ken Nee competed in his first SEA Games in 1995 when current top woman diver Pandelela Rinong was still in diapers.
It is no surprise then that Ken Nee is highly regarded by his younger team-mates.
The 28-year-old Ken Nee may be competing in his eighth SEA Games, but his drive for gold is as strong as ever as he prepares for his final bow.
Malaysia are looking at a golden plunder from the divers when the competition begins today.
“I can’t believe it’s been that long already,” he said. “It’s the right time for me to call it a day ... otherwise the younger divers will never be able to step up and meet the challenge.
“I still remember my first SEA Games ... back in 1995 (in Chiang Mai), where I finished fifth in the 10m platform.
“No one expected diving to ever win medals but there was a good programme in place because of the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur.
“Now, we have made our mark at the international level,” added Ken Nee, who picked up a bronze in the 10m platform in Jakarta 1997.
He has delivered at least one gold at every Games he has competed in since then.
The Brunei Games in 1999 yielded two gold medals for Ken Nee as Malaysian diving made a big breakthrough. The introduction of the synchronised discipline saw the Kuala Lumpur-born diver increasing his tally to three.
Ken Nee took a break due to his studies and skipped the 2003 edition in Hanoi but he was back on the winning trail soon after.
“Indonesia was where I won my first medal and I hope to end my SEA Games campaign with a medal here as well,” said Ken Nee, who will compete in the 3m springboard individual as well as the synchronised routine with Bryan Nickson Lomas.
Ken Nee and Bryan have both made the cut for the London Olympics next year.
Others with the potential to help realise the target of snaring six of the eight gold medals at stake are Pandelela in her pet 10m platform event and Leong Mun Yee-Wendy Ng Yan Yee in the synchronised 3m springboard.
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