UPDATE: James Deiparine wins gold to end 10-year medal drought in swimming
Credit to Author: The Manila Times| Date: Wed, 04 Dec 2019 11:14:10 +0000
CAPAS, Tarlac: Filipino-American tanker James Deiparine ended the country’s 10-year gold drought after breaking the bad spell in the 30th Southeast Asian Games swimming competition on Wednesday at the New Clark City Aquatics Center here.
The 26-year old Deiparine clocked one minute and 1.46 seconds in the 100m men’s breaststroke to send the crowd in cheers as he reset a 10-year old SEA Games record.
“I wasn’t looking around but I could just hear the crowd screaming and waiting for me to finish the race,” said Deiparine.
Deiparine, who won two silver medals during the 2017 SEAG in Kuala Lumpur, reset the 1:01.60 record of Nguyen Huu Viet of Vietnam.
“I really appreciate all the support coming from the Philippines. Thank you for all the support. I am really proud of bringing home the gold for all of you guys,” Deiparine added, will swim 50m breaststroke on Sunday.
Thanh Bao Pham of Vietnam settled for silver at 1:01.92 while Singapore’s Chien Yin Lionel Khoo bagged the bronze medal at 1:01.98.
Remedy Alexis Rule almost got the gold by a hair strand in the women’s 200m butterfly finals.
The 23-year old Rule finished 2:10.99 seconds, a mere 0.02 millisecond behind Singapore’s Jing Wen Quah (2:10.99) to land at the silver podium.
“I saw Jing was a little bit ahead an I gave my all in the last 50 meters and that is all that I can do. Jing is a great swimmer,” said Filipino-American Rule.
Vietnam’s Thi MY Thao Le got the silver at 2:12.70.