SEA Games: Alkhaldi settles for bronze after re-swim

What was once gold, is now bronze.

Jasmine Alkhaldi settled for the third place during the re-swim of the women’s 100m freestyle race on Friday night, almost 24 hours after bagging the gold in the same event, part of the 27th Southeast Asian Games swimming competitions in Myanmar.

The weight of having to return the gold medal after a jury upheld a protest filed by Thailand obviously had a big effect on the 20-year-old London Olympian who could only finish third in the race held at the Wunna Theikdi swimming pool.

Nathanan Junkrajang of Thailand, the swimmer who was the subject of the Thai team’s protest, bagged the gold medal.

Thailand filed a protest on the outcome of the race Thursday night after Junkrajang heard a horn signaling a false start, forcing her to stop while others went on with the race.

No officials made an effort to stop the contest, which Alkhaldi won over two Singaporean entries.

She was later ordered to return the gold she received during the awarding ceremony shortly after the jury decided in favor of the Thai protest. - Reuben Terrado, SPIN