SEA Games 2023: Triathlete Bryce Chong wins Singapore’s first medal in Cambodia
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Singapore's Bryce Chong celebrating on the podium after winning bronze in the men's aquathlon.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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PHNOM PENH – Fifth after emerging from the waters off Kep beach on Saturday morning, Bryce Chong knew there was no need to panic. He was still in a strong position for a podium finish after the 500m swim segment of the men’s aquathlon, with the 2.5km run to follow.
The Singaporean triathlete cleared the transition phase with minimum fuss and set about chasing down race leader Teo Zun Jet of Malaysia. By the half-way mark as he made the U-turn, Chong had overtaken Teo as well as Vietnam’s Quang Nhat Lam.
Chong eventually crossed the line in 15min 39sec to finish third, his bronze becoming a historical footnote as Singapore’s first medal of the 2023 SEA Games.
Indonesia’s Rashif Amila Yaqin took gold in 14:28, with Andrew Kim Remolino of the Philippines settling for silver in 15:07. Chong’s teammate Luke Chua was fourth in the 14-competitor field in 16:01 while Teo (16:31) and Lam (17:57) were seventh and 10th respectively.
Chong, who with Chua were part of the triathlon mixed relay team who took silver at the 2019 edition in the Philippines, was thrilled to claim his first individual medal at the biennial Games.
Just minutes after stepping out of a recovery ice bath, Chong, 26, said: “It’s quite a challenging course, not only because of the heat. The swim was tough too. I was just focusing on my form during the run, trying to drive my arms forward to close the gap on the guys in front of me.”
He did not qualify for the Hanoi Games in 2022 as he had completed his national service that year and was not at his optimal condition.
Earning his spot to Cambodia was a step in the right direction, he noted. “I knew I had to seize this opportunity, and a medal today is more than I asked for. It’s also a nice surprise to win Singapore’s first medal here.”
In the women’s event, compatriots Kathlyn Yeo and Herlene Yu were sixth and 10th out of 14 racers respectively in 18:16 and 18:56. Cambodian Margot Morokot Garabedian won in 16:09.
The quartet of Hillary Yu, Lim Wan Ting, Cedric Chua and Samir Varma finished sixth out of seven teams in the aquathlon mixed relay final in 1:16:48.
The medal has whetted Chong’s appetite for more as he said “standing on the podium earlier is a big confidence boost for my next race”.
He competes in the triathlon (750m swim, 20km cycle, 5km run) on Monday, which starts at 8.30am, an hour later than Saturday’s race.
He said: “It’s going to be even hotter so we’ll have to plan our strategy carefully. A two-day turnaround isn’t easy but I’ll be ready.”
The bronze in the men’s aquathlon is Bryce Chong’s first individual medal at the SEA Games. He was part of the triathlon mixed relay team that took silver at the 2019 edition in the Philippines.
PHOTO: REUTERS
