SEA Games 2023: Singapore’s Jonathan Tan meets Olympic qualifying mark in 50m freestyle
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Jonathan Tan also won the Gold medal during the Men’s 100m Freestyle final in the 2023 SEA Games.
ST PHOTO: DESMOND FOO
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PHNOM PENH – Singapore’s swimmers added three golds to their 2023 SEA Games haul on Sunday.
Leading the way was Jonathan Tan, who won the blue riband event, the men’s 50m freestyle, in 21.95 seconds, beating his more illustrious teammate Teong Tzen Wei who swam 22.50. Vietnam’s Jeremie Luong was third in 22.84.
In the morning heats, Tan had met the Paris Olympics qualifying mark in the event. The 21-year-old clocked 21.91 seconds to finish first, ahead of defending champion and teammate Teon (22.62sec) at Phnom Penh’s Morodok Tecno Aquatics Centre.
It is the second-fastest time by an Asian in 2023, after Hong Kong’s Ian Yentou Ho’s 21.86 effort at a local meet in April.
In fact, only Japan’s Shinri Shioura (21.67 is the continent’s record), Katsumi Nakamura, China’s Yu Hexin and Ho have posted faster times.
Tan’s timing is also a Games record, new Singapore record and makes him just the second local to post a sub-22sec effort in this event.
Teong was the first, swimming 21.93 en route to winning gold at the 2022 Hanoi Games. The Olympic A timing is 21.96sec.
The Republic also triumphed in the women’s 200m free thanks to Gan Ching Hwee. She swam 2min 1.76sec, ahead of Thai Kamonchanok Kwanmuang (2:02.21) and compatriot Chan Zi Yi (2:02.94).
Letitia Sim then won the women’s 200m individual medley.
