Killer Whales take the pool by storm at National Championships
View(s):
The Killer Whale Aquatic swimmers after their succes at the Nationals
The Killer Whale Aquatics (KWA) capped off the swim year in style by winning both the men’s and women’s categories at the 2022 Sri Lanka National Short Course Swimming Championships.
Despite the fierce competition from top swimmers around the country, Killer Whale Aquatics emerged victorious, with multiple swimmers earning gold medals in various events. The club’s dominance in the pool was evident throughout the competition. They proved to be the team to beat in both the men’s and women’s categories.
Anusara Abeygunawardane, the KWA men’s captain and a product of the club’s Learn-to-Swim Academy, SwimAmerica – Sri Lanka, set the tone for the team’s performance. Day one of the competition saw Abeygunawardane secure the first win of the meet in the 400m Freestyle. This victory, along with the strong performance from his teammates, helped the KWA men’s team impose their will on the competition from start to finish.
The men’s team won the championship by over 200 points and, even more remarkably, placed first and third in all the relays. This resulted in three new national records in the 4x50m Freestyle, the 4x50m Medley and the 4x100m Medley relays. The team also featured the return of Matthew Abeysinghe, a two-time Olympian, and Kyle Abeysinghe, a Commonwealth Youth Games double silver medalist, both of whom had captained KWA in the past. Their comeback, along with the rest of the team’s performance, added extra motivation and excitement to the competition.
The competition also saw Adeetha Siriwardena, an upcoming star at KWA, win all three backstroke events and set three new junior national records. Siriwardena broke the current national record holder, Akalanka Peiris’, record in the 50m and 100m Backstroke.
Ganga Senevirathne proved to be one of the standout performers in the women’s category, becoming the second swimmer to break the 30-second barrier in the 50 Backstroke. She followed the footsteps of another KWA alumni, Kimiko Raheem, who had achieved the feat first. Ramudi Samarakoon had another phenomenal performance by establishing three national records in all three Breaststroke events to erase the 15-year-old records in these events held by Mayumi Raheem of 2006 SAF Games fame.
The head coach of the KWA club, Manoj Abeysinghe, was thrilled with his team’s performance. “I am incredibly proud of our athletes and the hard work they have put in. To win both the men’s and women’s categories with such quality swims resulting in 13 new national and junior national records being established is no easy feat, and they have shown that they are among the best swimmers in Sri Lanka. I have no doubt that many of them will go on to represent Sri Lanka with distinction and pride at international competitions,” he said.
This win serves as a positive reflection of the club’s commitment and dedication to the sport, and it’s sure to provide a confidence boost to the team heading into future competitions. These young athletes are proof that with hard work and dedication, anything is possible. Coach Abeysinghe encouragingly added, “Dream big, work hard, and the results will follow. This victory is just the beginning for our team, and we look forward to bigger and better things in the future.”
KWA set a total of 13 national and junior national records and took home a total of 51 gold medals, 29 silver medals, and 24 bronze medals. The team also swept the senior relays, winning all ten events for both men and women, and had a strong showing in the individual events as well, with Ramudi Samarakoon winning the Senior National Champion for women and Neoma Kahandawa taking home the Junior National Champion for girls.
The performance of the KWA team at the championship was truly impressive, and their success is a testament to the athletes and coaching staff’s hard work and dedication. The team’s ability to set national records, sweep the senior relays, and win gold medals in individual and team events, showcases their dominance and versatility in the pool. The team’s performance not only put KWA at the top of the leaderboard but also set a high standard for the sport in Sri Lanka. Going forward, it’s clear KWA is a force to be reckoned with in the Sri Lankan swimming arena.