PHEE Jinq En passed one test in the pool yesterday with flying colours and then rushed off to catch a flight to the United States hoping to pass another — her university examination.
The 22-year-old clocked 1:08.50s — a new Sea Games record — to win gold in the women’s 100m breaststroke event at the New Clark City Aquatic Centre.
It erased her own previous Sea Games mark of 1:09.00 set in KL two years ago as well as her own national record of 1:08.65 set at the Malaysian Open in KL in 2016.
Singapore’s Christie Chue (1:09.06) took silver while Thailand’s Nisha Kukanakorn (1:10.70) settled for bronze.
Jinq En was clearly ecstatic after her victory.
“Woohoo! This is crazy!,” she exclaimed.
“There was no improvement for me in this event for two years and then, suddenly, I crack both my national and Sea Games records!”
Unfortunately, Jinq En had no time to celebrate as she was due to fly off to Indiana, the United States, later last night to sit for her examination at the Purdue University, where she’s majoring in Management.
“I’ll be flying off to the US in a few hours time (2.30am). When I land, I will have about five hours before I sit for my examinations.
“I’ve already missed two papers for the Games. But it’s been worth it,” she said.
Jinq En, who also won gold in the 50m breaststroke on Saturday, is set to graduate next year.
But in the pool, she has proved that she’s clearly a class above.