AMY MATCHES HER BEST FRIEND
She and Elaine are both games champions
AMY Kwan and her best friend, Elaine Koon now have one thing in common. Both the rhythmic gymnasts have won gold medals at the Commonwealth Games.
Elaine won the individual hoop event at the 2010 edition in New Delhi and yesterday, Amy emulated the former gymnast’s feat with the ribbon title at the Coomera Indoor Sports Centre.
However, there was some suspense when the 23-year-old Amy was awarded only 12.900 points for her ribbon performance.
Unhappy with the judges’ score, team manager Corine Beh forked out US$300 (RM1,160)) to appeal.
It turned out to be the right decision as Amy’s score was rectified to 13.200 points.
Cyprus’ Diamanto Evripidou, who won the hoop and ball titles, finished second on 12.900 while Malaysia’s Koi Sie Yan took bronze with 12.000.
“My manager (Corine) appealed and my marks were rectified. We had also appealed when I got low marks in the clubs earlier, where I finished fourth (13.350), as I felt I deserved more as it was my career-best performance.
“However, the judges did not raise my points. Disappointed, Corine told me to do my best in the ribbon to the tune - “Langt Fra Afrika Altsa” by Bjorn Torske,” said Amy, who also took the hoop bronze on 13.550.
For the record, it is only the third time Malaysia won a Commonwealth Games gold in gymnastics.
The others were Elaine and the rhythmic team in 1998 (Kuala Lumpur).
“Elaine was two years my senior at SJK (C) Yu Hua in Kajang. We were close then as we used to train under the same coach.
“Before the Commonwealth Games, Elaine posted ‘you can do it’ on my Instagram account. She does this whenever I go for an international competition.
“She was selected into Bukit Jalil Sports School before I joined her a few years later. She is now working in South Korea,” said Amy, whose mother stitched diamond-shaped embroideries on her leotards used for the Commonwealth Games.
Compatriot Sie Yan also won silver medals in the ball (13.400) and clubs (13.850).
Earlier, Malaysia won the team silver while Amy took bronze in the individual all-around.
Malaysia finished their campaign in gymnastics with a haul of one gold, three silver and three bronze for their best-ever Commonwealth Games outing.