Hoe Yean delivers historic swim, shatters national record in Germany

Way to go!: Khiew Hoe Yean (left) posing with the silver medal at the World University Games in Rhine-Ruhr, Germany. Together with him are gold medallist Nikolai Kolesnikov (centre) and bronze medallist Ryan James Erisman Jr.

PETALING JAYA: Khiew Hoe Yean has made history in style by ending Malaysia’s 34-year medal drought at the World University Games with a blistering swim to silver in Rhine-Ruhr, Germany.

The 22-year-old staged a dramatic comeback in the men’s 400m freestyle final on Thursday, storming from fourth place to second with a stunning final 50m split of 27.38s – and smashed his own national record in the process.