29th SEA Games Kuala Lumpur 2017 - Open Water Results

We congratulate Team Malaysia for securing 2 gold in the men (Kevin Yeap) and women (Heidi Gan) open water swimming in the 29th SEA Games Kuala Lumpur held on 18 August 2017.

Also a commendable achievement to our KL swimmer Wong Jun Bin for a 6th placing with an improved timing on his second open water outing.

The Star : Our swimmers rule

TALK about going out with a bang!

Kevin Yeap made sure of a perfect swan song when he led from start to finish to win the men’s open water 10km race at the Putrajaya Lake in front of the Water Sports Complex yesterday.

And to think that Kevin, who turned 28 on Aug 4, was considering retiring after failing to qualify for the Rio Olympics last year.

Kevin, who switched to open water six years ago, pulled away in the fourth lap of the six-lap race to clock 2’03:18 for Malaysia’s fifth gold of the Games.

Thailand’s Peerapat Lertsatha­pornsuk (2’05:41) took silver and Indonesia’s Aflah Fadlah Prawira (2’08:40) the bronze.

The day certainly belonged to Kevin, who only managed a bronze when the event was last held at the Jakarta Games in 2011.

By winning the gold medal yesterday, Kevin has created history by becoming the first Malaysian to win in two different disciplines in swimming at the SEA Games.

Kevin, of Perak, had won the 400m freestyle gold at Jakarta 2011.

“I’m really happy. I definitely swam a lot better than when I finished third in the Asian Open Water Championships (in May),” said Kevin.

“I told my coach that I would go out hard. I knew that if my competitors tried to follow me, they would be more tired than me.

“But it was still a tough and tiring race. I could feel my competitors right behind me until the fourth lap. I didn’t dare to look back.

“I’m really thankful to be given the chance to swim at the KL Games after thinking of retiring last year.

“Coach Paul (Birmingham) told me that if I wanted to retire, I should go out in a blaze of glory.

“I’m looking forward to the next phase of my life, maybe as a junior coach. First, I’m going to take a short holiday,” added Kevin with a grin.

Malaysian other swimmer – 18-year-old Wong Jun Bin – finished a creditable sixth in 2’12:26.


Read more at http://www.thestar.com.my/sport/swimming/2017/08/19/our-swimmers-rule/#HGUf07mm0VAfOkoG.99

The NST : M'sia clinches gold in men's, women's 10km open water swimming; Yeap creates history

By AJITPAL SINGH - August 18, 2017 @ 11:35am

KUALA LUMPUR: As expected, Malaysia clinched the Sea Games (KL2017) men's and women's 10km open water swimming gold medals through Kevin Yeap and Heidi Gan at Putrajaya Lake on Friday.

Kevin also created history as the first Malaysian to win gold medals in two different disciplines in swimming at the biennial games.

The 28-year-old won the 400m freestyle event at the 2011 Indonesia Sea Games.

After crossing the finish line after six laps, he raised his fist in the air and later declared that he is retiring from all swimming events.

"I am so happy to deliver the gold. I had wanted to retire after failing to qualify for the Rio Olympics in pool swimming, but national coach Paul Birmingham persuaded me to stay on and try open water races.

"Birmingham told me to retire with glory first and I did that today," said Kevin.

Heidi overcame illness and injuries to win the women's title.

"I am actually on antibiotics right now... I have been sick for the past one week.

"I will swim the 4x200m freestyle event before I take a break and decide on whether to retire," said the Perth-based Heidi.