Former Sarawakian Olympian Daniel Bego key figure in Federal Territories swim team

KUCHING (Aug 23): The Federal Territories swim team has emerged to be a strong force at the 21st Malaysia Games (Sukma XXI).

As of yesterday, the swim team was in second place with 12 gold, seven silver, and five bronze medals behind top-ranked Selangor, which had 12 gold, 17 silver, and six bronze medals.

A driving force behind Federal Territories’ success is leading official and coach Sarawakian Olympian Daniel Bego.

According to him, the team’s achievements stem not from specific strategies but from the relentless hard work and dedication of each swimmer and their coaches.

“What sets us apart is the resources and support provided by all parties, especially Federal Territories Sports Council,” he said.

Reflecting on Sukma XXI, he noted that the team’s journey has been smooth so far, with more good performances than bad.

“For the bad performances, we just shake them off and start the next day anew,” he added.

Returning to his hometown of Kuching for Sukma, Daniel said the competition has been inspiring.

“It feels great to be home. I get to work with high-calibre swimmers and race against the best in Malaysia, especially Sarawak,” he said.

While committed to his role with the Federal Territories team, Daniel maintains a deep connection with Sarawak, balancing his responsibilities with a heartfelt wish for his home state’s success.

He praised Sarawak’s swimmers, describing them as “nothing short of amazing”.

As for how Sarawak could improve further, Daniel advised: “Work towards a common goal and support each other, especially since Sarawak is so big with so many different provinces.”

He also stressed the importance of balancing training with exposure to international competitions, as competing against higher-level swimmers could help to elevate local standards.

Daniel is no stranger to the pressures of high-stakes competitions.

The 35-year-old, who specialised in freestyle and butterfly, has been a dominant figure in Malaysian swimming.

He represented Malaysia at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, competing in the 200m freestyle, 100m butterfly, and 200m butterfly events.

From 2003 to 2013, he won nine gold, two silver, and four bronze medals at the Southeast Asian Games.