EXCITING VISION 2020
WELSON Sim is on the right course for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics after his exploits yesterday in a land that is world famous for its swimming titans.
WELSON Sim is on fire and he has vowed to make more significant breakthroughs following his sensational performance at the Victorian Open Swimming Championships in Melbourne, Australia yesterday.
The Sarawak-born wants to continue improving and also qualify for his second Olympics in Tokyo next year.
Welson produced a near-perfect performance to upstage Rio Olympic champion Mack Horton and bronze medallist Cameron McEvoy in their own backyard in the men’s 200m freestyle final for the gold medal.
The 22-year-old clocked 1:49.41s to beat McEvoy (1:50.63) and Horton (1:52.85) for his second title of the meet.
His winning time in the 200m freestyle was not far from his national record of 1:47.36.
“Qualifying for the Olympics is my main target,” said Welson yesterday.
“I need to make the A cut for the Tokyo Games for a guaranteed spot. The World Championships in July will be the best avenue to achieve it.”
McEvoy, who won the 100m freestyle race on Friday, was a silver medallist in the 100m freestyle at the 2015 World Championship and was part of the Australian relay freestyle team that won bronze at the 2016 Rio Games.
For Horton, the reigning Olympic 400m freestyle champion, it was his second defeat to Welson in the meet.
On Friday, Welson made a big splash by beating Horton in his pet race.
In the heats, the Malaysian was the fastest qualifier after clocking 1:49.84.
Welson was also in record-breaking mode yesterday as he improved on his personal best in the 800m freestyle.
He clocked 8:09.77 to smash his own national record of 8:12.46 set at last year’s Indonesia Asian Games en route to finishing third.
Horton won the gold on 8:05.96.
With his efforts, Welson has made the B qualifying cut (200m, 400m, 800m freestyle events) for the World Aquatics Championships in Gwangju, South Korea in July.
Welson is currently based at the Melbourne Vicente Swimming Club, where Horton also trains.