COLOMBO: (ePRESS) – At just 13 years old, Rushalee Dissanayake of Musaeus College has already made a name for herself in swimming. Competing in the recently concluded MILO-sponsored All Island Schools Aquatic Championship at the Sugathadasa Stadium Swimming Pool, Rushalee’s extraordinary performance saw 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. The 49th edition of the meet witnessed Rushalee stunning the spectators and the swimming community by breaking records that had stood for two, three, and even four decades.
In the Girls Under-14 400m Freestyle final, Rushalee clocked an impressive 4 minutes and 59.52 seconds. This 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 is evidence to her hard work and commitment.
Rushalee began her swimming journey at Rainbow Aquatics during her early learning period as a beginner. Her assistant coach at Rainbow Aquatics, Penuka Wijemanne, praises her dedication and commitment to training. “She is a dedicated teammate, who is committed to training and even her dietary plans. Her parents are equally dedicated,” said Wijemanne.
Rushalee Dissanayake’s impressive achievements extend beyond the All-Island Schools Aquatic Championship. At the recent National Age Group Championship organized by the Sri Lanka Aquatic Sports Union (SLASU), she set a new meet record in the Under-15 Girls 1500m Freestyle. Rushalee finished the race in 20:02.25, surpassing the previous record of 20:27.99 held by A. Kalyanasundaram from Lyceum International School Wattala, set in 2017, by an astounding 25 seconds.
Rushalee Dissanayake’s future in swimming looks incredibly promising. 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 of her. As she continues to train and compete, the swimming community will undoubtedly be watching her with great interest, anticipating even more remarkable achievements from this young star.
