As the world gears up for the grandeur of the Paris 2024 Olympics, Sri Lanka is set to make a splash with its talented swimmers, Kyle Abeysinghe and Ganga Senavirathne.
Abeysinghe and Senavirathne booked their tickets to Paris 2024 by reaching the pinnacle of their swimming careers and achieving the dream of any athlete: representing their country at the Summer Olympic Games. They became the two Sri Lankan swimmers with the highest World Aquatics points at the World Aquatic Championships in Doha 2024.
Abeysinghe and Senavirathne secured their spots under the wild card system and will swim for Sri Lanka at the Paris La Defense Arena in the Men’s 100m Freestyle event and Women’s 100m Backstroke event, respectively.
Kyle Abeysinghe will dive into the Men’s 100m Freestyle on 30th July. Continuing the Abeysinghe family legacy and following in his elder brothers’ footsteps, the youngest Abeysinghe will make his Olympic debut at Paris La Defense Arena. Abeysinghe is the only Sri Lankan swimmer to win two medals at the Youth Commonwealth Games, achieving this in the 2017 Youth Commonwealth Games in Nassau, Bahamas, by winning two silver medals in the 50m and 100m Freestyle events. He has also represented Sri Lanka in various international competitions, including the FINA Youth Programme in Doha, Qatar (2014), Junior World Swimming Championships in Singapore (2015), South Asian Games in Guwahati, India (2016), South Asian Age Group Aquatic Championships in Colombo, Sri Lanka (2016), World Aquatic Championships in Windsor, Canada (2016), FINA World Junior Swimming Championships (2017), Gold Coast Commonwealth Games (2018), Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia (2018), Summer Youth Olympics in Argentina (2018), and World Aquatic Championships in Doha (2024).
Abeysinghe’s swimming journey hasn’t been smooth. He took a break from swimming due to medical reasons in 2018 but made a strong comeback in early 2023. Through hard work and determination, he became the long course and short course national champion in 2023, leading him to Paris 2024 as the highest World Aquatics points achiever in Sri Lankan swimming at the moment.
“The four-year span I spent out of the water was the most difficult time of my life. Each day I spent recovering from my illness, I also spent longing to get back in the pool. When I finally did get back to the sport, I was nearly 25 kilos over my peak competition weight, had lost all semblance of my aerobic capacity; and for all intents and purposes, I was no longer the athlete I once was. I felt an immense vulnerability, one that I’d probably never felt before. But with the support of my friends and family, without whom I would be utterly lost, I managed to find myself again.
It’s been a laborious process, getting back in shape and putting myself in the spotlight competitive sport shines on you. But this is what I love to do. The pool is my sanctuary, the water is my lifeblood. I’ve loved this sport since the first day I stepped foot into a pool. I fell in love with the dream of becoming an Olympian when I was 4 years old; watching Michael Phelps, Ian Thorpe, Pieter Van Den Hoogenband and Ian Crocker go at it during the Athens Games in 2004. And since then I have never lost sight of my dream. It strayed from me for a time, almost too far away to see at one point, but I never stopped believing.
I am hugely fortunate to be in the position I am, and I am so grateful to so many people. There are simply too many to name. To my family whose love and support for me never wavered, to my teammates throughout the years who pushed me to my breaking point over and over again, my coaches who taught me the value of self-accountability, my friends who brought me back from the depths of despair, to my competitors who helped me find my physical and mental limits; thank you. This is for you as much as it is for me and I couldn’t not have done this without any of you.” said Kyle Abeysinghe to ThePapare.
Ganga Senavirathne, the fastest Sri Lankan swimmer at the moment with the highest World Aquatics points, will compete in the Women’s 100m Backstroke on 29th July. Senavirathne has also represented Sri Lanka at the South Asian Age Group Aquatic Championships in Colombo, Sri Lanka (2016), World School Games in Brazil (2019), South Asian Games in Kathmandu, Nepal (2019), 15th FINA World Swimming Championships in UAE (2021), winning a silver medal at the 18th Singapore National Championships, Birmingham Commonwealth Games (2022), 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou (2023), World Aquatic Championships in Fukuoka (2023), and World Aquatic Championships in Doha (2024). Her entry into the Paris 2024 Olympics is a testament to her dedication and the support of her family and coaches. Senavirathne is a former Visakhian.
“I’m very honored and thrilled at the opportunity to represent Sri Lanka at the Olympics. Preparations are going great, and I’m mainly focusing on being the best version of myself in Paris.
The Olympics has been the dream for me. I believe it is for every young swimmer. So, work towards your goals. Don’t ever let others’ opinions affect your confidence in yourself. Push yourself to improve!
I also would like to take this opportunity to thank my mom, my dad, and my sister, they have always been right by my side no matter what. And my coach, Sir Manoj Abeysinghe, who always believed in me even when I failed. And my team, the Killer Whales, who support me through hard practices day in and day out.” said Ganga Senavirathne to ThePapare.
Guiding these swimmers to the Olympic waters is none other than Coach Manoj Abeysinghe, who will guide the Sri Lankan swimmers at Paris 2024 as the head coach of the team. Both Abeysinghe and Senavirathne are proud products of Killer Whale Aquatics.
As the countdown to the Paris 2024 Olympics continues, the anticipation builds. Abeysinghe and Senavirathne’s participation is not just about competing; it’s about representing the hopes and aspirations of an entire nation. Their journey to Paris 2024 is a narrative of hard work, dedication, and the relentless pursuit of excellence.
