Albert's saving grace brings gold in the pool
Albert's saving grace brings gold in the pool
By Ivy Susanti
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (JP): Albert Christiadi Sutanto saved face
for Indonesia's swimming team in the Southeast Asian Games on
Friday, striking gold in the 200 meters butterfly in a record-
setting time.
On the last day of the swimming competition, Albert clocked
two minutes and 2.06 seconds to beat the region's stalwarts
Malaysian Alex Lim Keng-liat and Ratapong Sirisanont of Thailand.
It was his second individual gold medal at this year's Games
after his victory in the 100m butterfly on Tuesday.
Albert, Alex and Ratapong finished inside the old mark of
2:02.90, which was set by Lim. He was second in 2:02.35 and
Ratapong touched the wall in 2:02.71.
Albert's time was under the 2:05:00 qualifying time for the
2000 Olympic Games.
The victory added some respectability to Indonesia's medal
tally in the pool of six golds, four silvers and 12 bronzes.
Thailand reigned supreme with 13 golds, 11 silvers and seven
bronzes, followed by Malaysia with 11 golds, nine silvers and
five bronzes. Singapore was third with seven golds, 10 silvers
and 10 bronzes.
A satisfied Albert expressed said the win silenced any doubts
about his ability. The Indonesian Swimming Federation (PRSI)
focused on veteran Richard Sam Bera to win gold medals for the
national team.
"I was confident I could win today's event after Tuesday's
victory. I left Lim far behind on the first lap but in the last
lap I was getting tired. I kept moving while I was praying for
God's help," he said.
Albert said the Games would be memorable for him because it
was the first he won golds in the individual event since 1991.
"I promise to come back in the next SEA Games," he said.
Thailand's young hope Pilin Tachakittiranan crowned herself
the new Games queen of the pool despite winning only two silvers
in the women's 50m freestyle and 200m butterfly on Friday.
Longtime Games winner Joscelin Yeo of Singapore, who cited
injury in withdrawing from two races on Wednesday, won the 50m
freestyle gold in a new meet record of 26.23 seconds to beat her
own old mark and Pilin (27.01). Moe Thu Aung was third in 27.41.
Yeo completed a double of golds on the night with victory in
the 400m individual medley, clocking a record-breaking time of
4:51.87. She smashed the old record of 4:53.30 set by Thai Ravee
Intporn-Udom.
Malaysian Sia Wai Yen was second in 4:52.52 while Thailand's
Duangruthai Thanmmaphanya was third in 5:04.70.
Singapore's golden girl now has six SEA Games records under
her belt, in addition to her six gold medals.
In the 200m butterfly, Tachakittiranan clocked 2:17.01 behind
compatriot Praphalsai Minpraphal who finished first in a time of
2:14.54. Minpraphal broke the old SEA Games record of 2:15.17 set
by Indonesian Catherine Surya, who is absent from the Games.
"I'm very proud of getting six golds and three silvers in this
SEA Games, and also setting new records in the 400m and 800m
freestyle events. It beats the target of four golds set by the
Thai swimming association. I thank my mother for her
encouragement," 16-year-old Pilin said.
She said Yeo could be a tough rival for her in future. "She's
good and is a talented swimmer. I think she might be my archrival
in the next SEA Games."