KUALA LUMPUR: Tan Rou Xin admitted she was nervous today, but that didn't stop her from breaking another national record, this time, in the women's 400m individual medley at the first Malaysia Aquatics Short Course Swimming Championships at the National Aquatics Centre.
The Kelab Renang Ezy swimmer posted 4:54.48s to break Sia Wai Yen's 25-year-old record of 4:54.74s. Yoong Jia Jia of Pade-Supersharkz Swimming Club was second with 5:01.57s and teammate Kelly Teo rounded up the podium with 5:01.72s.
Yesterday, the Johorean broke Alicia Li's record in the 200m individual medley. "I had planned to break this record, and I feel happy to have achieved it. I was nervous beforehand and my hands were shaking before I swam.
"My coach and teammates gave me a lot of support and that gave me a lot of confidence to break the record, and I did it.
"Although it's only by milliseconds, I still beat the record and this gives me a lot of confidence heading to the Paris Olympics (where she make her debut)," said Rou Xin, who turned 18 today.
Jayden Tan, of DSA Swimming Club, also got into the record-breaking act in the men's 400m individual medley, breaking Wan Azlan Wan Ali Abdullah's 25-year-old record. Jayden set a time of 4.18.28s, smashing Wan Azlan's record of 4:27.85s set in 1999.
Goh Li Hen from the Kota Permai Golf and Country Club Swim Team was second with 4:26.75s and teammate Goh Li Jie was third with 4:30.43s.
"This is the first or second time I have competed in the short course, especially in the individual medley. It's different from the long course, so this is a good experience for me.
"I think I did pretty good considering I broke the national record," said the 20-year-old Podium athlete.
Phee Jinq En, representing DSAS Swim Club, continued her fine run by breaking a third record at the meet in the women's 50m breaststroke. She cracked Christina Loh's record of 31.99s set in 2013 with 31.09s.
Isabelle Chiyi Buckley of Ikan Bilis Swimming Club was second with 32.84s, and Low Ee Mang finished third with 33.74s.
On Thursday, the two-time Olympian smashed Christina's 200m breaststroke record and yesterday she also broke Christina's 100m breaststroke record.