GAN EYES RARE SWIM FEAT

Freestyle swimmer aims for three-peat across 200m, 400m, and 800m events

- David Lee Senior Sports Correspondent

Singaporean swimmer Gan Ching Hwee shaking hands with fans after winning the women's 400m freestyle final on Dec 12. The 22-year-old's next target is the 800m gold on Dec 15.

(ST PHOTO: BRIAN TED)

BANGKOK - Touching the wall way ahead of her nearest rivals, Singapore swimmer Gan Ching Hwee not only retained the SEA Games women's 400m freestyle title in style on Dec 12, but also continued her quest for a rare triple-triple in the stroke.

Having also won the 200m gold on Dec 11, Gan will match a unique achievement if she retains her 800m title on Dec 15.

But the 22-year-old, who won the 400m free in 4min 11.88sec at the Huamark Aquatic Centre ahead of Thailand's Kamonchanok Kwanmuang (4:13.56) and Vietnam's Vo Thi My Tien (4:17.39) - is taking nothing for granted.

"Regional competition has been pretty stiff, as we have seen in the past couple of days, so I still need to work hard," said Gan.

Malaysia's Nurul Huda Abdullah was the only athlete who had won golds in the women's 200m, 400m and 800m freestyle across three consecutive SEA Games. She achieved the milestone from 1985 to 1989.

Singapore legend Junie Sng won all three events in 1977, 1981 and 1983 but finished second to Thailand's Sirirat Changkasiri in the 200m final in 1979.