KUALA LUMPUR, April 1 — Daniel Bego admitted Welson Sim has replaced him as the nation’s No 1 swimmer.

Welson came to prominence at last year’s Singapore SEA Games when he took gold en route to breaking Daniel’s 400m freestyle Games record of 3:53.99s set in Vientiane, Laos in 2009. Welson clocked 3.53.97s.

He also erased Daniel’s 200m freestyle national record of 1:49.21s — held since 2013 — by clocking 1:47.67s at the Singapore National Age Group Championships early this month.

Daniel, who only finished sixth in 100m freestyle at the Malaysia Invitational Age Group Championship yesterday, backed Welson to soon erase his national 100m freestyle record (50.16s).

“Based on his performances, it’ll only be a matter of time before he erases my time,” said Daniel.

“He had already broken one of my national records as well as my SEA Games record.

“He’s the most promising star in freestyle events. I’m proud of him,” added Daniel, a butterfly and freestyle specialist.

Meanwhile, the 26-year-old revealed he has not been training with the national squad since January as he is in the final year of a Bachelor’s Degree programme in physiotherapist studies at 
Mahsa University.

“I train on my own but with the Amateur Swimming Association of Malaysia and National Sports Council’s blessings,” said the Sarawakian.

“With the next generation coming through, the time is perfect to take it slow and focus on finishing my studies with flying colours.”

Despite that, Daniel said he will still compete at next year’s Kuala Lumpur SEA Games.

“I’m not saying goodbye yet,” he said.

Daniel is the country’s most decorated swimmer, winning 15 SEA Games medals (nine gold, two silver, and four bronze) on top of breaking six national records. 

He was the first Malaysian swimmer to compete in three different events at a single Olympics — 200m freestyle, 200m butterfly and 100m butterfly — in Beijing in 2008. He qualified for all three events after meeting the category B times.

Welson has qualified for the 200m and 400m freestyle Olympic events under category A — the first Malaysian to do so.

He has also met the 100m freestyle category B mark but would only know in July if he gets another ticket to swim in Rio.