Malaysia Aquatics keep coach Michael Kinross and staff despite swimmers' medal-less Asian Games

Malaysia Aquatics (MAS) will keep its national swimming coaches, even though the swimmers came home from the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games without a medal. The governing body made the decision at a post-Games evaluation meeting on Wednesday (7 Oct).

MAS secretary-general Andy Low said the coaching team had shown progress and that frequent changes would do more harm than good. The meeting was also attended by MAS president Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim.

Coaching team stays in place

The swimming programme is led by head coach Michael Kinross, an American who took charge of the national squad in May. He is supported by Magnus Hojby Andersen of Denmark, and American Megan Oesting is the technical director.

Low argued that constant change would unsettle the athletes and hurt the federation's longer-term plans. As reported by Bernama, he said swapping coaches repeatedly would leave even the swimmers "confused". He added that the meeting did not discuss whether any swimmers would be dropped from or kept in the national squad.

Kinross has been in charge for less than six months. His first major assignment was the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in July, where the squad included Khiew Hoe Yean, Jayden Tan, Lim Yin Chuen and Arvin Shaun Singh Chahal.

No targets, one national record

MAS did not set the swimmers a medal target for the Asian Games, which ended on Sunday (4 Oct). Low pointed to one clear sign of improvement: a new national record.

That came in the men's 4x200m freestyle relay at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre on 21 September. Khiew Hoe Yean, Arvin Shaun Singh Chahal, Lim Yin Chuen and Tan Khai Zin swam 7:18.79 to finish fifth in the final. They beat the previous national mark of 7:19.50, set at the SEA Games in Thailand last December.

Malaysia's last Asian Games swimming medal is still Alex Lim Keng Liat's silver in the men's 100m backstroke at Busan 2002.

A tough Asiad for the aquatics family

The swimming review comes after a difficult Games for Malaysian aquatics as a whole. The Star reported that the diving team finished without an individual medal at an Asian Games for the first time. The divers did win medals in the synchronised events.

Across the wider team, Malaysia finished the Aichi-Nagoya Games with nine gold medals, beating the target of six. Squash, track cycling, sepak takraw and other sports delivered the golds, which raised questions about sports that came home without one.

What comes next

The next major regional test for Malaysian swimmers is the 2027 SEA Games, which Malaysia will host from 18 to 29 September 2027 across Sarawak, Penang, Johor and Kuala Lumpur. At a home Games, the swimmers will be expected to deliver in the pool.

By keeping Kinross and his staff, MAS is betting on continuity over a quick reset. It has not said what targets the coaches will be set for the SEA Games, or when it will next review the squad.

Key takeaways

• Malaysia Aquatics will keep head coach Michael Kinross and his staff after the swimmers won no medals at the Asian Games.
• Secretary-general Andy Low said frequent coaching changes would confuse swimmers and derail long-term plans.
• The men's 4x200m freestyle relay set a national record of 7:18.79 and finished fifth in Japan.
• Malaysia's last Asian Games swimming medal came at Busan 2002.

FAQ Who coaches the Malaysian national swimming team? American Michael Kinross is head coach, working with Denmark's Magnus Hojby Andersen. Megan Oesting of the United States is technical director.

Did Malaysia win any swimming medals at the 2026 Asian Games? No. The best result was fifth place and a national record in the men's 4x200m freestyle relay.

What is the next big event for Malaysian swimmers? The 2027 SEA Games, which Malaysia hosts from 18 to 29 September 2027.

Sources: Bernama, The Star, New Straits Times