Best Sportsboy Andrew sets sights on splashing his way to LA2028

Worthy winners: Andrew Goh (left) and Gan Chen Jie were named the Best Sportsboy and Sportsgirl respectively. — IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star

SELANGOR swimmer Andrew Goh is ready to aim high after signing off from his final Malaysia Games (Sukma) campaign with the Best Sportsboy Award.

The 20-year-old Andrew was the deserving winner after an outstanding campaign at the Pandelela Rinong Aquatic Centre, bagging a total of five gold medals and three national and five Games records.

And Andrew has set his sights on qualifying for the Los Angeles Olympics in four years time.

“I hope to make it to the Olympics one day, not just to compete but to be able to hold a medal in my hands.

“But I need to keep working harder and keep improving and hopefully, I can represent Malaysia at the Olympics,” said Andrew, who will return to resume his studies at Grand Valley University State in United States soon.

On the final day of swimming competition on Friday, Andrew swam the second leg alongside Teoh Kar Chuan, Jayden Goh and Loke Yew Jien to claim the boy’s 4x100m medley gold with a new Games record.

Andrew previously bettered his national and Games record twice en route to winning the boy’s 50m breaststroke gold.

He also smashed his own national record set last year and also the eight-year-old Games record held by Wong Fu Kang in winning the 100m breaststroke gold.

He also won the 200m breaststroke gold with a new Games record on top of two gold medals in the 200m individual medley and mixed 4x100m medley.

Andrew dedicated his achievements to his family, coaches and also the Selangor Sports Council.

“It feels amazing, I could not have achieved this victory without my team.

“I didn’t expect this award as there were also many outstanding achievements by other athletes.

“But I am honoured and it means I need to live up to this and work harder to achieve bigger goals.”

Meanwhile, Negri Sembilan shooter Gan Chen Jie, who shot her way to seven gold medals in rifle discipline, was named the Best Sportsgirl Award winner last night.