Cover Malaysian swimmer Khiew Hoe Yean made his Olympic debut at Paris 2024 (Photo: Khiew Hoe Yean)
Malaysian swimmer Khiew Hoe Yean made his Olympic debut at Paris 2024 (Photo: Khiew Hoe Yean)
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Malaysian national swimmer Khiew Hoe Yean dives deep into his first experience at the Paris 2024 Olympics, sharing how he dealt with the pressure and demonstrated determination to excel on the world’s biggest sporting stage
Malaysian swimmer Khiew Hoe Yean’s debut at the Paris 2024 Olympics marked the realisation of a lifelong dream. As one of two swimmers selected by the Malaysian Swimming Federation to fill the wildcard slots from World Aquatics, the 22-year-old athlete was determined to make his presence felt.
A two-time Southeast Asian Games gold medallist, Khiew competed in the men’s 400-metre freestyle event. He finished fourth in the second heat with a time of 3.51 minutes. While his performance was commendable, it wasn’t enough to secure a spot among the top eight swimmers advancing to the final round.
Following his Olympic debut, we speak with Khiew to hear his thoughts on his inaugural experience at the quadrennial sporting event.
Read more: Seven Olympian strategies for staying strong and winning against the odds
On the adjustment period
Above From competing at Paris 2024, Khiew learned the importance of making sure he adjusts to the local time zone, climate and environment (Photo: Khiew Hoe Yean)
From competing at Paris 2024, Khiew learned the importance of making sure he adjusts to the local time zone, climate and environment (Photo: Khiew Hoe Yean)
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In the months leading up to Paris 2024, Khiew had put his studies on hold to focus solely on his training in Brisbane, Australia. “As I got to observe and see how other swimmers were practising, I saw how much further I could push myself,” he says.
With all the travelling, he also quickly realised the importance of adjusting himself to new time zones, climates and surroundings. After Brisbane, he said he then travelled to Belfast in Northern Ireland to train for another five days, before heading to Paris for the Olympics. “I needed to get plenty of rest while on the road and getting rid of jet lag was crucial to me performing at my best.”
On keeping calm
Above Khiew recalls the tremendous size of the crowd at the venue (Photo: Khiew Hoe Yean)
Khiew recalls the tremendous size of the crowd at the venue (Photo: Khiew Hoe Yean)
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As Khiew stepped into the Paris La Defense Arena, he remembers feeling struck by the sheer scale and energy of the crowd. The atmosphere was unlike anything he had experienced before. “The crowd was tremendous. There was so much excitement in the air and it was not just during the finals but even during the heats,” he says.
Read more: Paris 2024: Azizulhasni Awang sets new national record
Competing in the Olympics can be overwhelming, especially for a first-timer. If the event’s magnitude seemed intimidating, he would recall his coach Eric Anderson’s advice: don’t overthink and stay calm, even under intense pressure.
“It’s about fortifying yourself mentally and trusting yourself to perform your best,” he says. “I’ve competed in several world championship races and they were challenging, but they taught me valuable lessons. I knew I needed to frame my mindset positively, reminding myself that this isn’t insurmountable and that I’ve faced tough opponents previously during the World Aquatics Championships.”
On trusting the process
Above Khiew listening to music on his trusty headphones to clear his mind before the race at Paris 2024 (Photo: Khiew Hoe Yean)
Khiew listening to music on his trusty headphones to clear his mind before the race at Paris 2024 (Photo: Khiew Hoe Yean)
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Moments before the race, Khiew walked out to the pool with headphones on, immersing himself in the music. Oblivious to the noise and crowd cheering in the background, he hummed the rhythm in his head while he ran through his training regimen in his head.
Post-race, Khiew says as he thought back that the most important thing was not achieving the best time, but executing a perfect race against his competitors. “I learned to concentrate on my strategy and trust in the work I’ve put in during training,” he says. “Although I didn’t make it to the finals, I know it’s about improving my performance for the next [Olympic] Games in Los Angeles.”
Read more: Paris 2024: Lee Zii Jia takes on India’s Lakshya Sen, bags bronze for Malaysia
On resting and recuperating
Above Khiew prioritises form and technique to execute the perfect lap (Photo: Khiew Hoe Yean)
Khiew prioritises form and technique to execute the perfect lap (Photo: Khiew Hoe Yean)
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Learning from his mistakes and feedback from Anderson, Khiew says he had a strong start in the first half of the 400-metre freestyle race. But he acknowledges needing to work on maintaining his speed for the latter half of the race in order to finish strong.
Since returning from Paris, Khiew says he has been prioritising time to recuperate after three years of not taking a break from competing. “It’s time to step back and rest my mind before another season starts. I look forward to getting in the water again,” he says.
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