Swimmer Welson smashesnational 400m freestyle record in Australia.

Sim splashes to new national record in 400m freestyle in Australian meet

PETALING JAYA: Welson Sim showed he’s on course to qualify for the Tokyo Olympic Games after splashing to another record-breaking performance in Australia.

The 21-year-old smashed his national record by clocking 3:49.29 to win silver in the men’s 400m freestyle event at the New South Wales swimming championships yesterday.

His previous national mark of 3:49.48 was set at the Mare Nostrum meet in Monaco two years ago.

Australia’s Elijah Winnington, part of the gold-medal winning freestyle relay quartet at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games last year, won the gold with 3:48.68 while reigning Olympic champion and Aussie star Mack Horton settled for third with 3:50.94.

Welson’s effort is nothing short of impressive considering he has not tapered fully at this time of the year.

It’s still early in the season for him to peak and the Sarawakian’s achievement justified his decision to train at the Melbourne Vicente Swimming Club in Melbourne, where Horton also trains.

It’s not the first time Welson has done better than the Olympic champion.

Just two weeks ago, Welson splashed to two golds at the Victorian Open swimming championships in Melbourne. He beat Horton to win the 400m freestyle event and went on to take victory in the 200m freestyle the following day.

Welson will be delighted with his efforts as he is assured of competing in the World Aquatics Championships in Gwangju, South Korea, in July after making the B qualifying cut for the 400m (3:56.14).

Welson, without doubt, is aiming for bigger things.

“Making it to the Olympics again is my main target. I want to make the A cut for the Olympics to be assured of a place and the world championships is the place to go for it,” said the double Kuala Lumpur SEA Games gold medallist, who will be competing in the 200m freestyle today.

Welson will remain in Melbourne until the end of next month before he returns for the Malaysian Open in Bukit Jalil.

Big splash: Welson Sim beat Olympic champion Mack Horton en route to the 400m silver medal in a new national record time of 3:49.29 at the New South Wales championships yesterday.