KUALA LUMPUR – Johor athlete Tan Rouxin had a lot to handle since the passing of her mother in 2018, but she persisted and claimed her first Malaysia Games (Sukma) gold medal in the women’s 100m breaststroke today.
Rouxin recorded her personal best, 1m 11.25s, at the National Aquatic Centre in Bukit Jalil here.
The 15-year-old came a long way from swimming in a kiddie pool at the tender age of six to an Olympic-sized swimming pool.
She dedicated her success to her parents who have been by her side from the start.
“My mother passed away in 2018.
“Since then, my father has been the one who sacrificed his time to send me for training every day after work,” she said when met after the event.
Rouxin added that her next mission is to qualify for the 2023 SEA Games in Cambodia.
She also aspires to be as successful as national swimmer Phee Jing En who held four SEA Games gold medals – 100m breaststroke in 2015, 2017, and 2019, and 50m breaststroke in 2019.
In other events, Sabah athlete Loo Yie Bing took home a gold medal in the women’s 200m freestyle.
The 14-year-old’s recorded time was 2m 7.03, beating Kelly Teo of Sarawak at 2m 7.63s and Ong Yong Qi of Johor at 2m 8.46s.
Yong Qi, however, bounced back from her bronze position to claim gold in the women’s 400m individual medley at 5m 2.78s.
Meanwhile, Chong Xin Lin contributed a gold medal for Kuala Lumpur in the women’s 50m backstroke event. – The Vibes, September 19, 2022
