KUALA LUMPUR, June 12 — Malaysia's long distance swimmer Heidi Gan confirmed her Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games spot in the women's 10km open swimming marathon event with a splendid performance in Portugal today.
Heidi finished 18th in the Olympics Qualifying Tournament in Setubal, Portugal early today after clocking 1 hour 57 minutes 41.20 seconds to gain her place in Rio through the continental quota allocation.
The International Swimming Federation (Fina) allocate spots for Rio to the best ranked athlete from each of the five continents if they failed to qualify for the events on merit.
As the champion, Xin Xin of China who finished the race with a time of 1’55:12.10s and fifth placed Yumi Kida (1'55:38.40s) of Japan took the 10 direct qualification spots while Heidi gained the continental quota spot for Asia.
Keri-anne Payne of Great Britain finished second after clocking 1’55:12.90s while Samantha Arvelo of Ecuador finished third with a time of 1’55:15.90s at the Sado River course.
The 27-year-old in her Facebook posting said she was very grateful to compete in the Olympics for the second time after finishing 16th at the 2012 London Olympics.
“The race today for me was rough and tough, but I did my best with what I had on the day, and it was enough to get me that ticket to Rio. This means so much to me for so many reasons as six weeks ago I was barely swimming due to a shoulder injury.
“The fact that I completed the race with a patched up shoulder on a course where the last time I swam it I got hypothermia makes this achievement extra special. Not to mention a cheeky suit break half an hour before the gun went off.
“I can't thank my support team enough — my coach Matt Magee for sticking by me, always believing in me and getting me to this point, despite my broken body (and mind!), my travel coach Ian Mills who will be coming with me to Rio, my magic physio Brett Slocombe for piecing me together, my family and my partner for your endless support and my friends,” she said.
Heidi who failed the first attempt for Rio qualifications at the World Championships in Kazan, Russia, in July last year, created history to become the first Malaysian open swimmer to qualify for the Olympics in the same event at Setubal in 2012. — Bernama
