The Long Course Time Trial was the last chance for swimmers to prove themselves before the squad was chosen for September’s Asian Games. Photo: Swimming Association
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https://scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3175315/star-born-hong-kong-swim-trials-hayden-kwan-beats-2-records-his Hong Kong
A star is born at Hong Kong swim trials as Hayden Kwan beats 2 records – but his times won’t count
- The 19-year-old swims under two Hong Kong best times but will not enter record books because he is fulfilling residency requirement after arriving from US
- Kwan swims nearly 5 seconds faster than 200 metres backstroke record and also dips under 100 metres best at Long Course Time Trial
Hayden Kwan celebrates during the Long Course Time Trial at the Hong Kong Sports Institute. Photo: Hong Kong Swimming Association
Hong Kong may have found another swimming sensation in Hayden Kwan after the young backstroker stole the limelight in the city’s Long Course Time Trial on Saturday.
Kwan, 19, swam faster than two Hong Kong bests during the meet – part of the 65th Festival of Sport – although his times will not count as records, because he has not yet fulfilled the residency criteria.
He arrived from the United States in the city where his father came from last July to take a year off from his studies at Stanford University and train at the Hong Kong Sports Institute.
And he arrived as a potential star for Hong Kong with his showing at the trials, held behind closed doors at the institute because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
His time of 2 minutes and 0.77 seconds in the men’s 200 metres backstroke was a staggering 4.3 seconds faster than the Hong Kong record of 2:05.07, held by Lau Shiu-yue. Kwan also bettered another Lau record when he clocked 56.47 seconds in the 100 metres backstroke, three hundredths of a second faster than Lau’s 56.50.
“Kwan is not yet eligible to represent Hong Kong, therefore the results are not Hong Kong records,” said the city’s swimming head coach Chen Jianhong. “But he has shown great potential since coming to Hong Kong as a scholarship athlete.
“When he becomes a member of the team, we can certainly look for more convincing results from him.”
Born in the US, Kwan took part in last year’s American Olympic trials. He has a Hong Kong passport through his Hongkonger father, but must be resident for a year to switch allegiance as a swimmer.
“He won’t be considered for the forthcoming Asian Games in Hangzhou, but next year’s World Championships and the 2024 Paris Olympics will be his target,” Chen said.
The meet on Saturday was the last chance for swimmers to stake a claim for selection for September’s Asian Games, with the Swimming Association to convene next week to finalise the Hong Kong squad.
Hong Kong team members including Chan Kin-lok, Ho Nam-wai, Toto Wong Kwan-to, Tam Hoi-lam, Jamie Yeung Zhen-mei, Cheuk Ming-ho, Ho Tin-long and Ng Yan-kin took part – even if they were somewhat outshone by Kwan.
“We hadn’t had any competitions this year because all the facilities were closed from January [as a pandemic prevention measure], with only a small number of full-time athletes able to train at the institute,” said David Chiu Chin-hung, chairman of the Swimming Association’s selection committee.
“We therefore wanted to give the swimmers this last chance to prove themselves before we name the squad.”