From the moment Diluka Thibbotumunuwe first jumped into the Ananda College pool, he has felt a profound passion for swimming. Nursing this endless enthusiasm, the youngster has soared past many of his fellow competitors and presently, at just the age of 18, he is the country's best swimmer in the Breaststroke.

Teenage Breaststroke maestro Diluka Thibbotumunuwe (left)

He earned himself this title by conquering all his opponents at this year's Nationals, reigning supreme in the 50m, 100m and 200m Breast Stroke events, to float away with three gold medals. This success, coupled with a bronze medal from the 100m medley relay in at the SAF games, has made this year one of the most memorable of the teenager's budding career.

This meteoric rise to the upper echelons of local swimming is understandable considering that the immensely gifted Diluka has studied under Julian Boling before moving under the tutelage of his present coach, Manoj Abeysinghe, two much respected and highly knowledgeable personalities in the local coaching scene.

Nevertheless his achievements in the pool have been nothing short of stellar, trailing all the way back to the 2007 National Championships, which was to serve as the stage for his first major breakthrough on the local swimming circuit, where he claimed three silver medals in his pet event.

Diluka says his progress has been propelled substantially this year, since he came under the watchful gaze of Manoj Abeysinghe. Diluka is now one of the central members of his coach's new club, 'Killer Whales' and often shares the pool with other talented swimmers such as Mathew Abeysinghe and Sampath Weerakody.

"We are all together while we train but we are divided into different groups based on how good we are. Mathew and I are in the elite group and it's very good for me to train opposite someone as good as him," Diluka reveals.

He continues to add that his training is extremely focused and testing, requiring him to show deep commitment, a demand he does not shy away from. "I basically train seven days a week, with my daily sessions made up of swimming in the pool from early in the morning. I also do physical training sessions twice a week," Diluka explains.

Presently he is eying a place in the squad that travels to New Delhi for the South Asian Games next year and eventually a self earned slot at the 2012 Olympic Games. From there he aims to continue swimming from strength to strength, perhaps one day even progressing to a point where he will take to the water against his idol, Kosuke Kitajima.

However he confesses that his long term goals lies not in the water but in the skies, where his late father, a wing Commander in the Sri Lankan Air Force, once soared. "I want to eventually become a pilot," he expresses with great pride. However the youngster adds that swimming will continue to be a big part of his life, "I love the sport and I am deeply grateful to my family for supporting me constantly," he exerts.