Swimming

by Hla Min

Updated : June 2025

Inya

My uncle took us to Inya Lakes. He taught us to float. We swam in the shallow waters. After swimming, we were treated with “Bu Thee Kyaw”.

RU Swimming Pool

The membership rules might have changed over the years. The pool was not Olympic size, but it was good enough for the early RU competitions for swimming, water polo & diving.

2nd SEAP Ganes

• Burma hosted the 2nd SEAP Games in 1961.
• Swimming & diving events were held at the then new National Swimming Pool.
• The Burmese team won most of the gold and silver medals.
• Tin Maung Ni (GBNF) won 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m and 4x100m freestyle events.
• Tin Maung Ni also won in the Asian Games. He competed in two Olympics. He passed away in his 30s.
• Mya Thee & Aung Than topped the 100m freestyle. Maung Kyi won the 100m breast.

• Two RU swimmers — Aye Kyaw and Derek Lynsdale — represented Burma.

Swimming Clubs

They include Kokkine and Mayo Marine.

RIT Swimmers

During our times, Htay Aung (M69) was the dominant swimmer at RIT and Inter-Institute. He later found his match in Lyn Aung Thet (IM1).

Saya U Hla Myint (Charlie, M65) led the RIT Swimming and Water Polo teams. Htay Aung, Han Sein (GBNF), Sein Myint, Moe Hein, Hla Kyaing and Win Maung (Lake) are some 69ers who represented RIT in swimming and water polo.

Htay Aung represented Burma in Water Polo at the 5th SEAP Games in 1969. His spouse Than Than (sprinter) won Gold Medals at SEAP and Asian Games.

Miscellaneous

Evolution

• Swimming techniques and swim wear have evolved over the years.
• Female swimmers have broken the record set up by Johnny Weissmuller (of Tarzan fame).

Mark Spitz (USA)

• Won seven golds in the 1972 Munich Olympics.
• Won 100m and 200m freestyle, 100m and 200m butterfly, 4x100m and 4x200m freestyle relays, and 4x100m medley relay.

Michael Phelps (USA)

• Won eight golds in a single Olympic and 20+ golds over multiple Olympics
• Swam Freestyle, Butterfly, Individual Medley & Relays

My Mom

• Her love for the water (floating and swimming in the Inya Lakes) probably caused me to enter the world a few days ahead of the due date.
• I can do front and back crawls, but not at the competitive level.

Richard Yu Khin (GBNF)

• He wrote about the tough training program by Mr. Matsuda to the Burmese swimmers led by Tin Maung Ni.
• He was good at Yachting & Swimming.
• He chose to represent Burma in Yachting. He won Gold Medal at 2nd SEAP Ganes with his senior partner U Maung Maung Lwin.
• He received a doctorate in Economics from Yale University.
• He passed away in Texas.