KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Aquatics (MAS) believes that the 18 new records set at the Malaysia Short Course Swimming Championships are a positive sign for Malaysian swimming.
An unprecedented 18 records - 12 women's and six men's - were shattered in the first national-level short course meet in the country at the National Aquatics Centre last week.
Among the highlights was the fall of the oldest standing record, the men's 400 IM, set in 1999 by Wan Aslan Wan Ali Abdullah.
MAS Technical Director Megan Oesting feels that the national swimmers are making positive progress.
"I'm thrilled with how far we've come this year. Everyone was really happy to swim in the short pool, and the energy on deck and in the stands was fantastic," she said.
"Some of those records were broken three to four times in the same event by different people, one heat after another. I've never seen so many records go down.
"We're having a lot of fun. This is an exciting time for Malaysian swimming, and this is only the beginning."
MAS honorary secretary Andy Low said the Malaysia Short Course Championships not only highlighted the growing talent in Malaysian swimming but also established a new standard with the official keeping and maintenance of short course national records.
"MAS extends its heartfelt congratulations to all the swimmers, coaches, officials, volunteers, parents, and supporters who contributed to the success of this historic event," he said.
"We look forward to many more record-breaking performances in the future as we continue to elevate the standard of competitive swimming in Malaysia."