Dashing: Khiew Hoe Yean posing at the entrance of the University of Stirling after training.
IT’S not every day that a Malaysian swimmer gets to train with an Olympics gold medallist.
Khiew Hoe Yean did just that for close to a month at the University of Stirling in Scotland leading up to the Commonwealth Games.
Among the swimmers there was Duncan Scott who made history after winning four medals – more than any other British athlete at a single Olympic Games in Tokyo.
The 25-year-old splashed to one gold (4x200m freestyle) and three silvers (4x100m freestyle, 200m individual medley and 200m freestyle) last year.
Scott, who is from Glasgow, bagged six medals in the previous Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia, four years ago and will be the country’s main hope for gold when the competition starts today.
Likewise, an inspired Hoe Yean is also hoping to make waves when he make his bow in the 400m freestyle heats.
The Vietnam SEA Games gold medallist will also compete in the 200m backstroke as well as the 100m and 200m freestyles.
“It was certainly a very good training stint. It’s definitely more competitive than in Bukit Jalil,” he said. “We travelled to Stirling right after the World Championships (in Budapest) last month.
“Stirling University is the base for some of the top Scottish athletes heading to Birmingham.
“I got to know Scott and managed to pick up some pointers.
“He is also a middle and long distance swimmer like me so the techniques he taught me will prove valuable,” said Hoe Yean, who has established himself as the nation’s top swimmer with one gold and three silvers in Hanoi.
At the world meet, Hoe Yean broke Welson Sim’s 400m freestyle national record of 3:49.29 set in 2019. Hoe Yean clocked 3:48.72 to place 20th in Budapest.
“I will be pleased to swim and get some personal bests here. But it’s my first Games experience, so I’m just trying to get better and learn from the top swimmers,” said Hoe Yean.The other Malaysian in the morning heats is Bryan Leong, who will race in the 50m butterfly.
