Sri Lanka swimming is on course to showcasing two of its most promising teenagers of the future who performed exceptionally well at last week’s Milo-sponsored All Island Schools Aquatic Championships at the Sugathadasa Stadium pool in Colombo.
Embracing victory and friendship: Gold medalist Rushalee Dissanayake, breaking a 32-year-old meet record, celebrates with her schoolmate Senuki de Silva, silver medalist in the Under-14 Girls 200m Freestyle.
One of them is 13-year old Rushalee Dissanayake of Musaeus College while the other is the prodigy from Zahira College MF Muhammad and the duo has been touted as future Olympians of Sri Lanka.
Rushalee’s extraordinary performance made her set three new meet records, breaking several decades-old marks and winning three gold medals. Her achievements earned her the title of Under-14 Girls Champion.
Rushalee is a product of Rainbow Aquatics, guided by coach Julian Bolling and his assistant Penuka Wijemanne. Her Musaeus College coach, Shehan Dassanayake, has also played a key role in her development.
At the 49th edition of the meet Rushalee kept spectators spellbound by breaking records that had stood for more than four decades.
In the Girls Under-14 400m Freestyle final, Rushalee clocked an impressive 4 minutes and 59.52 seconds and the performance slashed a remarkable 11 seconds off the previous record of 5 minutes and 10.06 seconds set by Udeshika Biyanwila from Bishop’s College in 1980. Her victory in this event was a clear exhibition of her talent and dedication.
Rushalee’s record-breaking spree continued in the 200m Freestyle, where she set a new meet record of 2:23.07. This performance erased the three-decade-old record of 2:24.66 set in 1992 by Upeksha Silva of Colombo International School.
In the 100m Freestyle, Rushalee clocked 1:05.11, narrowly surpassing the previous record of 1:05.14 set by current national pool member Hiruki de Silva of Gateway College Colombo in 2018. Her ability to consistently perform at such a high level was evidence to her hard work and commitment.
But Muhammad’s rise in swimming began as a quest for good health, guided by doctors to combat asthma. Taking to the pool at Zahira College, his mentor and sole coach, Fawaz Mohideen shaped him into a formidable force over a decade.
Muhammad now stands tall as a triple gold medalist, an Under-18 Age Group Champion has three new meet records while dominating the All Island Schools Aquatic Championship.
Muhammad was supreme in the boys’ Under-18 category with unprecedented flair setting new benchmarks in the Under-18 50m, 100m and 200m Breaststroke events.
In the 100m Breaststroke, Muhammad splashed through in 1:07.62, eclipsing the previous mark by nearly three seconds. His agility in the 50m Breaststroke, finishing at 30.51 seconds and the 200m Breaststroke in 2:29.09 broke records set years ago to cement a legacy as a champion.
Swimming pundits marvel at Muhammad’s rapid rise and predict he will soon challenge the breaststroke national records held by South Asian Games medalist Kiran Jasinghe.
His technique, refined under coach Fawaz’s meticulous guidance, has captured attention for its finesse and efficiency.
Recently honored by Zahira, Muhammad and Fawaz received accolades from the school’s Sports Department and Old Boys Association. Their partnership has not only brought glory to the school but also inspired a new generation of swimmers.
Muhammad’s journey from health seeker to record-breaker exemplifies toughness, setting a stirring example for young athletes nationwide. As he prepares for the forthcoming National Championships, all eyes are on this rising star.
As for Rushalee, she began her swimming journey at Rainbow Aquatics during her early learning period as a novice and her assistant coach Penuka Wijemanne, praised her dedication and commitment. “She is a dedicated teammate who is committed to training and even in her dietary. Her parents are equally dedicated,” said Wijemanne.
Rushalee’s record-breaking feats are not limited to the All Island Schools Aquatic Championship. In the last National Age Group Championship organized by the Sri Lanka Aquatic Sports Union (SLASU), Rushalee broke a meet record in the Under-15 Girls 1500m Freestyle. She clocked 20:20.25, improving the previous record of 20:27.99 set by A. Kalyanasundaram of Lyceum International School Wattala in 2017 by seven seconds.
Her future in swimming looks incredibly promising and her ability to break long-standing records and her dedication to the sport at such a young age suggest that she has a bright future ahead.
As she continues to train and compete, Sri Lanka’s swimming followers will undoubtedly be watching her with great interest anticipating more remarkable achievements and Rushalee is not likely to disappoint.
