Last week, Matthew Abeysinghe was approved by the SLASU and the National Olympic Committee to represent Sri Lanka at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics which is to be conducted from the July 23 to August 8 in Shinjuku, Tokyo Japan. This would be his second Olympics, having already represented Sri Lanka at the Rio 2016 Summer Olympics as the first Sri Lankan Swimmer to have met the Olympic Standard qualifications. Matthew has been representing Sri Lanka for swimming since 2010 and has gone on to set records at many international meets such as the South Asian Games and Commonwealth Games. Now, Matthew is set to represent Sri Lanka in the Men’s 100m Freestyle at the Tokyo Olympics, proving once more to be one of Sri Lanka’s greatest swimmers.
In a brief interview with the USA based athlete, we had the opportunity to ask Matthew about his challenges in getting his chance to once again represent Sri Lanka at the Olympics, and his relationship with the sport of swimming itself.
Q: It is no exaggeration to say that you are one of, if not the best swimmer not just in Sri Lanka but in South Asia as well. How would you describe being in such a position?
A: It is a position which has taken a lot of hard work to achieve. I take it seriously as something I hold until someone surpasses that in future. That is progress.
Q: Would you say you do anything special relative to the average swimmer?
A: Yes, most elite awimmers undergo a training regimen that is not done by the swimmer average. That is a requirement to succeed at that level.
Q: How has the pandemic affected your training in the US?
A: I have faced many challenges in the past year and a half or so since Covid-19. I was in New York City with my family when the pandemic first hit. NYC was probably the worst hit city/place in the entire world and lockdown was extremely intense. Being under lockdown for such an extended period, coupled with the fact that most pools in the United States were closed made it very hard to find a place to train. However, I do feel confident at this point leading up to the Olympics and I am swimming as fast right now as I ever have, or faster. Before the pandemic I had basically swum for 20 years straight with no real break. I do think that the pandemic offered me a much needed physical and mental break from the sport of swimming.
Q: As I recall, this is not your first Olympics. How do you feel about your participation this time around compared to last time? From what I understand you are to be a wild card entry this time around.
A: I was very young at the Rio Olympics and it was a great learning experience for this Olympics. I’m excited to use the knowledge I gained five years ago to better prepare me for the task ahead which is Tokyo 2021. I qualified several times in the qualification window for the 2020 Olympics. My best being 49.11 in the 100 FR at the Commonwealth games in 2018. Unfortunately, the qualification period was shifted due to the Olympics being postponed to 2021. Due to the pandemic, I haven’t had any competitions.
Q: As an athlete consistently competing on an international level, you would have competed in a variety of competitions. Do you have any experiences that come to mind as being particularly notable to you, personally?
A: As for my most unforgettable swimming experience, as I said before this sport has given me so much over the past 21 years, it is extremely hard to pick just one most unforgettable memory. A few that come to mind are obviously both South Asian Games in 2016 and 2019 where I won seven gold medals each time, qualifying for the Olympics in 2016, and swimming on a relay comprising my four brothers which broke the Sri Lankan National record in the 200 medley relay, a record which I believe still stands to this day.
Q: Having trained both in Sri Lanka and abroad, what would you say are the biggest differences, if any?
A: The level of competition.
Q: What do you feel about the state of competitive swimming in Sri Lanka? As someone who has competed and trained in other countries, what do you think could be improved here?
A: Consistency in training and selections will go a long way to improve standards in Sri Lanka.
Q: How do you feel about the sport itself, personally? Do you feel any different towards swimming competitively as opposed to for fun?
A: I don’t think I am qualified to answer that question as I have never swum for fun. I enjoyed training and competing. But, that is different.
Q: What interests do you have, outside of swimming?
A: For as long as I can remember, I have had no time for other interests than swimming and studies. I guess I will have a lot of time to find out what interests me after I am done with swimming.
Q: Beyond this Olympics, what do you see your future in swimming looking like? Any specific goals in mind?
A: Honestly, right now I am just trying to focus on one meet at a time. This close to a competition I like to put my blinders on to anything happening outside and just have tunnel vision on the goal ahead. This is one of the things that has given me the ability to remain focused on a sport I have done for 21 years.
Q: What kind of advice do you have for your fellow swimmers and for anyone looking to get into the sport competitively?
A: My message would just be to work hard. I think that’s obviously the most important thing. I think if you work hard enough and prepare well enough you can overcome any obstacle; I really do believe that.
