Darren Lim won a battle between the two stars of the 2013 Asian Youth Games swimming portion on Thursday, topping the boys’ 50 free.
At the meet, held in Nanjing’s OSC Natatorium, the 14-year old Lim took the 50 free in 23.09. That’s still shy of the 22.7 he was earlier this summer, but it’s an outstanding time for a swimmer of his age on a second taper.
The runner-up was Malaysia’s Ching Lim in 23.46, and South Korea’s Dasan Kim took 3rd in 23.47.
All three would swim in the 100 free final the next day on Friday, but there it was Kim who won in 51.07, followed by Ching Lim in 2nd in 51.14.
Matthew Abeysinghe frim Sri Lanka took the bronze in 51.52, and Darren Lim wound up 4th in 51.54.
Other winners over the meets last two days include:
- South Korea’s Miso Ko won the women’s 100 free in 56.76 and the women’s 50 free in 26.07.
- Chinese Taipei’s Bing-Rong Cai won the boys’ 200 breaststroke in 2:14.68, dominating the field by over three seconds.
- South Korea’s Jiwon Yang won the girls’ 200 breaststroke in 2:27.74, winning by an even huger six seconds. This, historically, has been one of the best races for the Korean women.
- The Koreans won another gold with a 54.68 from Jaeyoun Jung in the boys’ 100 fly, and Supakrid Pananuratana from Thailand was 2nd in 54.81.
- Vietnam’s Thi Anh Vien Nguyen, who represented her native country at both the 2012 Olympics and the 2013 World Championships, won the women’s 200 IM in 2:15.09. That’s a relative cruise for the 16-year old as compared to her 2:12 that placed 19th in Barcelona.
Very Strong his 100 free.In Brazil, 51.23 is 15year-old age group record in 100 free.And detail: the second best before was over 1.5s slower…
My mistake:
I forgot about Renner Lima 51.77 from 2006 at 15years-old.Sadly, he stoping growing early and didnt improve much.
Darren did tell the Singapore media that he picked up a back injury last month and is still recovering, hence the slower time.
According to this article back in late July he was just over 5’10” and 141lbs and that was after a 6″ growth spurt.
http://news.asiaone.com/news/sports/swimming-fast-not-fast-enough-his-eyes
Uh oh. That is going to limit him. He won’t be growing anymore.
I agree.
Such a shame though. I wished there were many tall south east asian swimmers.
With what i am hearin about his technique and fast strokes, if he was capable to gain around 7cm, he will be able to match the big ones(like McEvoy does).
Start is something he have a lot of time to refine and improve.
Even his 51.54 is impressive for a 14 year-old boy.How tall is Lim now?
178cm now, according to the latest report on him. Abit worried though, his older sis is Shana Lim from U Arkansas, and she is not tall at all
Forgot to add: Darren had a 51.25 earlier on in the 100 Free in June, so 51.54 is not his fastest
22.7 at 14?????????? You gotta be kidding me. Michael Andrew has some catching up to do. Wowzer!
Needs to mention that Darren Lim is from Singapore! Anyone paying attention to SEA swimming would know that, but all the other swimmers have their countries given. With promising young stars like Lim one can only hope that Asia will begin winning more medals (especially gold ones) in swimming.
This new generation is going to be the best we have ever seen.
BTW, Darren Lim swam a 51.54