KUALA LUMPUR: While Malaysia’s swimmers struggled to make an impact at the World Championships last month, it is a different story at the ongoing World Masters Championships in Gwangju, South Korea.
Cindy Ong delivered Malaysia's first ever gold medal in the championships after emerging victorious in the women's 100m freestyle for the 35-39 age group yesterday.
The Perak-born athlete clocked a commendable one minute and 0.22 seconds to clinch first place, finishing comfortably ahead of Ukrainian Yuliia Dobrovolska (1:00.92s) and Brazil's Carla Horst Vaine (1:01.69s).
Cindy, who retired from the national team over 10 years ago, said: “I am really happy to win Malaysia's first gold medal in the World Masters Championships. I worked very, very hard for this and everything has paid off,” said the 35-year-old.
“I had expected to win a medal but to get the gold is a bonus because the competition is very tough here.
“I still have another six events, and I will try my best to do Malaysia proud.”
Cindy will also be swimming in the 50m freestyle, breaststroke and butterfly, 100m butterfly as well as the 4x50m mixed relay and freestyle events later this week.
The World Masters Championships feature numerous former world and Olympic medallists. More than 5,000 swimmers from 84 nations are competing in Gwangju.