Open Water Swimming In The SEA Games

The open water swimming competition at the SEA Games XXVI/2011 began Thursday, November 17th on Putri Island among Thousand Island in Indonesia.

The multi-sport SEA Games (Southeast Asian Games) are held every two year involving participants from the 11 countries of Southeast Asia including Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Brunei, Indonesia, Philippines, and Timor-Leste.

The women's 5K championship kicked the festivities off in what can only be described as idyllic paradise. Under the watchful eye of Ronnie Wong, FINA's Technical Open Water Swimming Committee chairman, veteran International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame inductee Chris Guesdon, and a cadre of local officials, the open water swimming community descended upon the magnificent Putri Island for the first open water swimming event conducted at the SEA Games.

The athletes and officials showcased the sport in the 29.5°C water and 30°C air temperature with light ocean breezes.

Heidi Gan of Malaysia, showing promise for the future, took advantage of swimming with the men and slowly drew away from the other women in the race. Thi Ngoc Bich Nguyen of Vietnam was second followed by Yessy V. Yosaputra of Indonesia in third.

The athletes will return to the waters off Putri Island on Saturday to compete in the 10K championship.

Results:

1. Heidi Gan (Malaysia) 1:11:47
2. Thi Ngoc Bich Nguyen (Vietnam) 1:13:45
3. Yessy V. Yosaputra (Indonesia) 1:15:19
4. Rania Saumi G. (Indonesia) 1:15:24
5. Chelsea Fuch (Singapore) 1:19:28
6. Thi Ngoc Yen Nguyen (Vietnam) DNF

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