Swimmer sets new national mark, and will now turn journalist

Stellar feat: Phee Jinq En hugging her teammates after breaking the national record in the women’s 4x100m medley relay. — GLENN GUAN/The Star

BANGKOK: It was Phee Jinq En’s last ever swim for Malaysia. And she finished with a new national record and a big grin on her face.

The retiring 28-year-old swam the breaststroke leg to help the women’s 4x100m medley quartet break a 16-year-old record at the Assumption University Aquatic Centre here.

Sadly, though, it was not good enough for a medal.

Jinq En, Chong Xin Lin, Lim Shun Qi and Wong Shi Qi clocked 4:12.81s to finish fourth, breaking the national record of 4:13.18s set by Chui Lai Kwan, Siow Yi Ting, Marellyn Liew and Khoo Cai Lin in 2009.

“What a race for Malaysia. After six editions of trying, we finally did it.

“It has always been in the back of my mind, this record needed to go.

“Thanks to my teammates for trusting this old auntie for delivering one last time,” said Jinq En, tears running down her cheek.

Her sixth SEA Games campaign, also her final one, embodied her dogged determination to make Malaysian swimming team proud on the international stage.

Jinq En has been a model of consistency over a decade, winning silver in the 100m breaststroke in 1:10.09s and sharing bronze with Thailand’s Saovanee Boonampha in the 50m breaststroke after posting 31.71s here.

Her two medals in Bangkok means she never failed to finish on the podium in all six SEA Games she has competed in.

“The 100m breaststroke individual race was the first and only race in my 10-year career where I didn’t think about whether I swam well or not.

“I knew the gold was out of reach, so I just wanted to have fun. I told myself I just wanted to be on the podium, no matter what colour.”

And she managed silver.

“Maybe 10 years from now, when I think about the 2025 Thailand SEA Games, I’ll know I left everything in that pool.

“I feel so happy I got to bow out on my own terms,” added the two-time Olympian swimmer.

The Selangor-born Jinq En will next be heading to Italy in February to work with Olympic Broadcast Services at the 2026 Winter Olympics, marking her transition from the pool to the global sporting broadcast stage.

She is unsure whether broadcasting will become her long-term career but what’s certain is that her bond with sport is far from over.

“I have a feeling, probably like 90% sure that I will remain in the sports industry.

“I just love it too much,” she said.