SEA Games: Six golds for Singapore's swimmers and slew of records too

SINGAPORE - Joseph Schooling broke the longest-standing national swimming record on Monday evening when he clocked 22.47 seconds in the men's 50 metres freestyle at the SEA Games.

The previous record of 22.69sec was held by Singapore great Ang Peng Siong, who set the time on Aug 20, 1982, at the US swimming championships.

Schooling, 19, set the time on his way to winning his third gold of the Games, after triumphs in the 100m freestyle and the 4x200m freestyle relay on Sunday.

The win also kept up Schooling's unbeaten streak at the biennial meet with three golds in three events.

Thailand's Napat Wesshasartar was second in the 50m free race in 23.08, while previous winner Triady Fauzi Sidiq rounded up the top three (23.11).

Earlier, Singapore's Tao Li added to her 50m butterfly gold with a win in the 50m backstroke. Tao clocked a Games record 28.90, ahead of compatriot Shana Lim, who finished in 29.36. Vietnam's Nguyen Thi Anh Vien was third in 29.40.

Singapore finished the night with six golds.

Schooling also added a 200m butterfly gold, breaking the Games and national record as he clocked 1:55.73. Quah Zheng Wen was second in 1:56.79, ahead of the Philippines' Jessie Lacuna (2:00.89).

Quah Ting Wen won the 100m freestyle in a Games record of 55.93, while her brother Zheng Wen won the 200m backstroke in a Games and national record of 2:00.55.

Ting Wen ended the night anchoring the 4x200m free relay team to a nail-biting win over Thailand. Together with Christie Chue, Amanda Lim and Rachel Tseng, they timed 8:12.95, out-touching Thailand, who clocked 8:13.43.

siangyee@sph.com.sg

SEA Games 2015: Get more updates, photos and videos

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.