Shelinda Jansen of Gateway College showed just why she is a star in the making while bagging the overall honours as the Best Performer at last week’s International Schools Athletic Championships (ISAC) at the Sugathadasa Stadium and making none other than her doting mother the proudest in the world.
Most of the talented athletes who missed the South Asian Games due to injury contested the ISAC meet where several new meet records in the respective events were established and Jansen was the cynosure of all eyes.
“I had to put up with a hamstring injury during the 100m heats at the South Asian Games selection trials.
“I had to undergo treatment and it can take up to three to four months to recover from a hamstring injury, but I should be thankful to my physiotherapist.
“I was half fit within a month and fully recovered within two months,” said Jansen who had probably missed a golden opportunity to showcase herself at the South Asian Games.
Jansen has some notable achievements during her school career one of which was a personal best in the 100 metres with 11.93 seconds and taking first place in the 200 metres at the Asian Championship trials last year. She participated in the South Asian Junior Athletic championship 2018 and clinched two bronze medals in the 100m and 200m and won a gold medal in the 4x100m at her first ever international meet.
She also contested the Asian qualification trial for the Youth Olympic Games 2018 and was placed fourth in Asia that gave her a place in the 200m at the Youth Olympic Games.
Jansen also took part in the Youth Olympic Games 2018 in Argentina and was able to make the cut in the 200m when she came first in the group stage with a timing of 24.07 seconds to be ranked ninth among the world’s juniors and the fastest in Asia and the third fastest in junior sprinting behind Susanthika Jayasinghe and Damayanthi Dharsha.
She also believes that she has what it takes to secure a place at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
“I am trying my best to get to that point to reach great heights and I know it won’t be easy. But in the end looking back I would feel proud of myself in the future and I’ll know that I fought for something worth my life,” said Jansen.
“My superwoman who discovered my talent and pushed me to do things that I thought was impossible was my mother. She’s the woman who found out that I had the potential and the one who was there for me through all my numerous hard times and the first person to celebrate my victories.
“I will forever be thankful and grateful for her and my family.”
She left the venue taking home the RIT Alles Challenge Trophy after being adjudged the best at the ISAC meet.