KUCHING: Beyond the cheers and the splashes at the Pandelela Rinong Aquatic Centre, the evening finals of the Borneo Games Kuching 2025 carried stories of determination, faith and youthful spirit as swimmers reflected on their golden moments.

For Sabah’s Laura Lee Yen Nie, who struck gold in the women’s 200m butterfly, the victory was more personal than the podium.

“My preparation for this was mainly focusing on my stroke and pacing, especially in the 200 metres. My main goal was just to get a personal best, I wasn’t really thinking about getting a medal. But God blessed me with a gold today,” she said, while reminding fellow athletes to always believe in themselves and to take a break whenever needed.

Sarawak’s Chereen Ngo Yirui, only 15 years old, stunned the crowd with a double triumph in the women’s 800m freestyle and 200m breaststroke.

Clutching her medals with a shy smile, she admitted the 800m was the toughest race of the night.

“When I saw how close the race was with Sabah, I just told myself to maintain my speed and use every ounce of my strength to finish,” she said.

Meanwhile, Sarawak’s Puong Wei Hii, who claimed the men’s 200m butterfly title, offered a glimpse into the mindset that carried him through.

“On the mental side, I’d say do something you love. For me, I listen to music to release stress and then go back to training. Just do your best, do what you can, and believe in yourself.”

Their reflections added a human touch to an evening defined by endurance, power and precision in the pool. More than medals, their words echoed the heart of BGK 2025 and that is believing in yourself, staying resilient and embracing the joy of sport. -UKASnews