KUCHING: Sarawak Sprint 2026 served as a key stepping stone for swimmers, Sheamus Chew Heng Yi and Anson Chiu Wei Kiet, as they prepare for the upcoming Malaysia Games (SUKMA) 2026.
The two promising young swimmers delivered standout performances at the three-day championship last weekend, using the meet as an important platform to sharpen their form ahead of the state’s campaign in Selangor this August.
Fourteen-year-old Sheamus from Kuching, standing at 174cm, caught attention after breaking five meet records across multiple events, namely the 100m individual medley, 50m butterfly, 25m butterfly, 100m freestyle and 200m individual medley.
Despite his growing medal collection, Sheamus remained humble about his achievements.
“My medals? I keep them in my drawer… No, I keep them on my wall,” he told Sarawak Tribune when met at the Pandelela Rinong Aquatic Centre recently.
As one of the youngest swimmers in the Sarawak squad, Sheamus said the Sarawak Sprint was more about gaining valuable exposure and experience than chasing results.
“This is for training… I want to get experience,” he said.
The teenager will be making his first SUKMA appearance this year and is embracing the opportunity as a learning experience.
“I’m excited. I want to get experience. I’m the youngest in the team,” he added.
Meanwhile, Anson of Splash Swimming Club Bintulu also impressed, breaking two meet records in the 100m breaststroke and 200m individual medley.
The swimmer, who has been in the sport for over five years, capped off his campaign with five gold medals.
“I am going for SUKMA this year. My plan is to train even harder,” he said.
Anson expressed satisfaction with his performance, describing it as a positive boost ahead of the Games.
Sheamus was named Best Boy in the 13-14 age group, while Anson took the Best Boy title in the 15-16 age group.
Their performances at the Sarawak Sprint 2026 underline their growing potential as two promising young swimmers to watch as they continue their development towards their upcoming SUKMA campaign.
