The 2011 National Swimming Championships completed its five-day stay at the outdoor pool of Olympic Stadium. Participation at the competition was up from last year according to Cambodia Amateur Swimming Federation General Secretary Hem Thon, who revealed that 104 male and 76 female swimmers had competed this year. Seven of the nine clubs involved hailed from Phnom Penh, while clubs based in Kampong Cham and Kandal provinces also fielded swimmers. Hem Thon’s descendants made the biggest waves in the men’s and women’s events, with grandson Hem Thon Ponleur taking four gold medals in the men’s 100m freestyle, 200m breaststroke and 200m individual medley races. The Secretary’s niece Hem Thon Vitiny, meanwhile, dominated the women’s section with top honours in no less than six events – the 100m and 200m freestyle, the 100m and 200m breaststroke, the 200m individual medley and the 100m butterfly. Other notable performances saw Masimouf Chamreoun Yuri capture victories in the men’s 100m breaststroke, 100m butterfly and 200m freestyle. Seng Samphors won the women’s 100m backstroke. 

TRANSLATED BY PANN RETHEA