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LIVING & TRAVEL Interview with Jim Keng Liat, Malaysian Olympic Swimmer Name: Jim Keng Liat Age: 15 Home town: Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia Olympic event: 100m and 200m backstroke; 400m Medley Relay Favorite food: Rice Other sports: Ping Pong, basketball Read more Team Malaysia Olympic coverage on Tripod!

Tripod continues its series on Malaysian Olympians with another swimming conversation -- this time with 15 year old Jim Keng Liat. Tripod: How did you get involved in swimming? What age? Is it a big sport in Malaysia? Jim Keng Liat: I got involved in swimming from my father. I started swimming when I was 7 years old. Swimming is not a big sport in Malaysia. The big sports in Malaysia are football and badminton. Tripod: What's your training schedule like, including out-of-water workouts? Are you a full-time student? JKL: My training schedule is like this: Monday's off! 2 hours each morning (7:00 to 9:00) swimming or weightlifting or both. 2 hours each evening (5:00 to 7:00) swimming. I'm a full-time student. Tripod: Why are you training in the United States? Are there other Malaysian athletes besides the swimmers training here? JKL: I train in the United States to prepare for the Atlanta Olympic Games. I don't think there are other Malaysian athletes besides the swimmers training here. Tripod: Do you think there's a sense of community among the 34 Malaysian athletes (being such a small team), or do you not know the other athletes? JKL: I think there's a sense of community among the 34 Malaysian athletes, but I just know a few of the athletes in Malaysia. Tripod: In the United States, large companies fight over who gets to give the American Olympic team money. Is it the same in Malaysia? Are you or your team sponsored? By whom? JKL: No there is not the same in Malaysia. Our team are sponsored by companies, but I don't know which ones. Tripod: Can you compare the differences between training resources and coaching in the United States vs. Malaysia? JKL: The differences between training resources and coaching in the United States vs. Malaysia is in the United States the coach gives us a lot of work and we swim more in long distance. In Malaysia, we work a lot in strokes and do a lot of sprinting. Tripod: How do you think the Olympics are viewed in Malaysia? Is it a big deal to be an Olympic athlete? JKL: I think the Olympics are viewed in Malaysia in year 2020. Yes, it is a big deal to be an Olympic athlete. Tripod: What are your hopes in the competition? Winning your event? A bronze medal? Breaking personal best times? Relays? JKL: I hope I can breaking my personal best time in 100m and 200m backstroke and also the relays team in the competition. Illustration by Federico Jordan, a freelance illustrator based in Mexico.