GAN'S GOLDEN MILESTONE

22-year-old writes herself into the history books, says it is 'a special feeling'

- David Lee Senior Sports Correspondent

Gan Ching Hwee won the 800m freestyle at the SEA Games in Thailand on Dec 15 to become the first Singaporean to complete the 200m, 400m and 800m triple-triple at the biennial meet.

(ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO)

The scoreboard at the Huamark Aquatic Center malfunctioned during the women's 800m freestyle final on Dec 15, but there was no doubt that Singapore's Gan Ching Hwee had won it, with the body lengths between her and the rest of the field providing good measure.

When the results were finally beamed, the 22-year-old's time read 8min 33.13 sec a Games record with Vietnam's Vo Thi My Tien (8:49.02) and Thailand's Kamonchanok Kwanmuang (8:52.17) behind her.

In the process, Gan became the first Singaporean to complete the 200m, 400m and 800m freestyle triple-triple at the SEA Games.

Malaysia's Nurul Huda Abdullah was the only other athlete who had wins in the same events across three consecutive SEA Games, achieving 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.

But there was no stopping Gan, who said: "The whole race I was trying to look to my coach and he was waving me on, so I thought something was wrong, like I was going too slow. I didn't know I had a Games record until after I swam down, so that's special too.

"To be able to complete the 2-4-8 is a special feeling, to complete a triple-triple is extra special, and it's a testament to the work I've put in over the years.