TOKYO – Purdue freshman Lancy Chen impressed in the breaststroke at the Asian Games, qualifying for the finals of all three of her individual events while being part of five top-10 finishes representing her homeland Macau.
Chen set Macau national records in the 100- and 200-meter breaststroke at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre, which also served as the site of the 2020 Olympic Games. She posted times of 1:09.99 in the 100 and 2:31.57 in the 200, finishing 10th and eighth in the finals.
Chen began her week at the quadrennial continental showcase with a time of 31.92 to take ninth in the 50-meter breast.
With Chen as part of the foursomes, Macau’s 4x100 freestyle and 4x100 medley relays also qualified for finals.
Macau is classified as a Special Administrative Region of China but competes independently at many international sporting events. However, a 1996 charter rule change by the International Olympic Committee restricts National Olympic Committee membership to independent, sovereign states.
Chen is one of three international students in the Purdue women’s freshman class, joining swimmer Elisa Moshkovitch (Yavne, Israel) and diver Lucy Dovison (Melbourne, Australia). Including the men’s program, there are currently eight nations (besides the USA) represented by student-athletes at the Morgan J. Burke Aquatic Center.
The Purdue women open their season Friday with a dual meet at Illinois. Action is set to begin at 6 p.m. ET as the home-and-home series continues into Year 7.
CHEN AT THE ASIAN GAMES
September 20
• 50m Breast, 31.92 (Prelim Time) – 8th in Prelims, 9th in Final
• 4x100m Free Relay, 3:54.27 (58.95 100m Split) – 7th in Final
September 23
• 100m Breast, 1:09.99 (Prelim Time, Macau National Record) – 10th in Prelims, 10th in Final
September 24
• 200m Breast, 2:31.57 (Prelim Time, Macau National Record) – 6th in Prelims, 8th in Final
September 25
• 4x100m Medley Relay, 4:18.73 (1:09.74 100m Breast Split) – 8th in Final
