Elynn’s a handful for rivals as she grabs fifth gold for Penang

IT’S high five for swimmer Elynn Tan Yilin (pic).

Penang had no regrets bringing back Elynn all the way from the United States as she single-handedly contributed five gold medals in the swimming competition.

The 18-year-old, who arrived just days before the Malaysia Games (Sukma) started, sprinted her way to the girls’ 50m freestyle title in 26.56 at the Tuanku Zara Aquatic Centre yesterday.

Two Selangor swimmers Koh Jia Yi and Liew Chern Xin finished with silver (27.36) and bronze (27.47) respectively.

It was Elynn’s fifth time on top of the podium in Ipoh.

Elynn had already won the 50m backstroke, 50m and 100m butterfly as well as the 100m freestyle earlier.

“Winning five golds is more than what I had expected coming here,” said the 2016 Sarawak Sukma double gold medallist Elynn, who started studying design at the Iowa State University a month ago.

“I was just trying to get a fast time each time I race as I knew the competition was strong, especially from Selangor.”

Penang ended the five-day competition with six gold medals.

Lim Yin Chuen, the son of former national swimmer Lim Yit Aun and who won the boys’ 200m freestyle on Monday, contributed two silvers in the 50m freestyle and 100m back- stroke yesterday.

“We managed to break the ‘curse’ of the Penang swimming team. We had won two gold medals at the last three Games but we got six this time,” said team manager Wayne Thor.

“Elynn and Yin Chuen have shown the way for the younger swimmers. We hope the duo can inspire the younger ones to push harder to improve at the next Games.

“We’re trying hard to develop swimming in Penang. There are now 10 training centres in Penang. We also have a China coach (Xu Yafen) helping our local coach Tan Choo Heng for this Sukma,” he added.