Congrats Lil Kim
Friday December 2, 2005
Iron lady Kimbeley upsets the field
KIMBELEY Yap was a former national swimmer who only took up triathlon in April as a challenge.
No wonder then that many questioned if the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) had done the right thing by sending her to the SEA Games.
Yesterday, the 20-year-old Kimbeley gave an emphatic answer by delivering a surprise gold for Malaysia at Subic Bay.
Triathlon was contested for the first time in the Games. And Kimbeley swam, cycled and ran her way into the history books as the first women’s winner.
Kimbeley, the half sister of national swimmer Daniel Bego, came out of the water first in the 16km swim. It stayed that way after the 40km cycling leg and Kimbeley went on to complete the 10km run, recording a winning time of 2’14:33.
Pre-race favourite Sandra Araullo of the Philippines finished 1:30 behind for silver and bronze medallist Allisha Ng of Singapore was 3:30 slower than Kimbeley.
For Kimbeley, the win was certainly sweet, not just because she competed as a Category B athlete but also because she had contemplated pulling out after incurring a shin bone injury just before leaving for Subic Bay.
As a swimmer, Kimbeley represented Malaysia in two previous Games. On both occasions, she won the bronze medal as a member of the relay team.
Athletes under Category B pay their own expenses to compete in the Games but get a reimbursement from the OCM if they get at least a silver.
“I was not feeling good about my chances because of my condition. But with proper treatment, it got better,” said Kimbeley, who won the Desaru Triathlon in June.
“I certainly did not expect to win the gold. The competitors from the host country had the advantage because they knew the course well. But after the good lead from the swimming leg, I knew I was in with a shot for the gold.”
Team manager Lau Kong Yen said: “We knew Kimbeley was capable of achieving something but it is certainly not easy to predict the winner in the triathlon.
“Araullo was the favourite. She went to compete in Australia and the United States to get ready for the Games.”
With Kimbeley having snatched a surprise gold medal, US-based Loh Yeong Shang will certainly be inspired to do the same in the men’s race today.
Iron lady Kimbeley upsets the field
KIMBELEY Yap was a former national swimmer who only took up triathlon in April as a challenge.
No wonder then that many questioned if the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) had done the right thing by sending her to the SEA Games.
Yesterday, the 20-year-old Kimbeley gave an emphatic answer by delivering a surprise gold for Malaysia at Subic Bay.
Triathlon was contested for the first time in the Games. And Kimbeley swam, cycled and ran her way into the history books as the first women’s winner.
Kimbeley, the half sister of national swimmer Daniel Bego, came out of the water first in the 16km swim. It stayed that way after the 40km cycling leg and Kimbeley went on to complete the 10km run, recording a winning time of 2’14:33.
Pre-race favourite Sandra Araullo of the Philippines finished 1:30 behind for silver and bronze medallist Allisha Ng of Singapore was 3:30 slower than Kimbeley.
For Kimbeley, the win was certainly sweet, not just because she competed as a Category B athlete but also because she had contemplated pulling out after incurring a shin bone injury just before leaving for Subic Bay.
As a swimmer, Kimbeley represented Malaysia in two previous Games. On both occasions, she won the bronze medal as a member of the relay team.
Athletes under Category B pay their own expenses to compete in the Games but get a reimbursement from the OCM if they get at least a silver.
“I was not feeling good about my chances because of my condition. But with proper treatment, it got better,” said Kimbeley, who won the Desaru Triathlon in June.
“I certainly did not expect to win the gold. The competitors from the host country had the advantage because they knew the course well. But after the good lead from the swimming leg, I knew I was in with a shot for the gold.”
Team manager Lau Kong Yen said: “We knew Kimbeley was capable of achieving something but it is certainly not easy to predict the winner in the triathlon.
“Araullo was the favourite. She went to compete in Australia and the United States to get ready for the Games.”
With Kimbeley having snatched a surprise gold medal, US-based Loh Yeong Shang will certainly be inspired to do the same in the men’s race today.
posted by pm19 at
9:19 am
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