Vernon Lee Wins His Third Gold With Another Games Record

SARAWAK’S Vernon Lee has come a long way since taking up swimming at the age of seven.

The 16-year-old, who only took to swimming for his own safety, will be going home as the high achiever of the Pahang Suk­ma swimming competition with three gold medals – all in record times.

Vernon brought his campaign to an end by clocking 15:53.67 in the men’s 1,500m freestyle – smashing the previous mark of 15:59.08 set by Kevin Yeap of Perak.

Indonesia SEA Games gold medallist Kevin, who is also his training partner in the national team, was watching from the stands and Vernon paced himself well to clip six seconds off the previous record.

Vernon, thus, has completed a superb double in the long distance, having also erased Kevin’s Sukma record in the 400m freestyle on Wednesday.

Three cheers: Vernon Lee of Sarawak celebrates after winning the 1,500m freestyle at the Indera Mahkota Aquatic Centre in Kuantan Thursday.

Vernon also swam in the victorious 4x200m freestyle relay team and the quartet bettered the previous Sukma record held by Federal Territories.

Vernon, who pumped his fists with joy despite having just completed the energy-sapping event, was delighted to have emerge as the new long distance king in Sukma swimming.

“I got a few silvers on my Sukma debut in Malacca as Kevin was still swimming for Perak then,” said Vernon, who joined the national team based in Bukit Jalil more than a year ago.

”Now I’ve got three gold medals. I’m happy I was able to break Kevin’s meet records in the 400m and 1,500m freestyles.”

And what did Kevin have to say to Vernon after his record-breaking feats?

“He told me ‘just give me a nice treat’,” said Vernon.

Vernon’s triple delight, however, failed to prevent Selangor from taking the overall title.

It was Selangor who celebrated in the end as they wrested the overall crown, thanks to their victorious 4x100m medley quartet.
Lim Ching Hwang screams in delight after powering Selangor to the 4x100m medley relay gold.

Selangor, with a total of 11-8-13, finished just ahead of Sarawak (10-4-6) and FT (7-10-7).

Lim Ching Hwang captured his fourth gold as he swam the freestyle leg for the Selangor men’s 4x100m medley team to win in 3:53.90, breaking the previous mark of 3:58.75 held by FT.

The other swimmers for Selangor were Shaun Yap (breaststroke), Chan Jie (butterfly) and Teh Wei Pin (backstroke).

Ching Hwang took individual gold medals in the 100m and 200m freestyle as well as another gold as part of the men’s 4x100m freestyle.

Australia-based Ong Ming Fen finally got a Sukma gold after swimming the butterfly leg of the FT women’s record-breaking 4x100m medley.

The FT women’s team improved on their own record of 4:25.82 with their winning time of 4:23.17.

James Chen completed a double for Penang by winning the men’s 50m freestyle in 23.51 to add to the 100m freestyle win two days ago.

Kah Yan made amends for her defeat in the 50m backstroke by winning the 100m race in 1:05.31, breaking the previous Games record of 1:05.50 held by Carmen Ooi, who is also from FT.