COLOMBO, January 26 (ePRESS) – Hashel Senarath of Gateway College Colombo enjoyed a remarkable 2025 season, winning 17 gold, seven silver and four bronze medals, while also setting three new meet records and claiming four championship titles. He established two new meet records at the Inter-International Schools Swimming Championship and one at the National School Games.
The 13-year-old produced a strong performance at the National and Junior National Short Course Swimming Championship, where he finished on the podium in all five of his events in the Under-14 age group. He won gold in the 200m Butterfly with a time of 2:21.89 and added four silver medals in the 50m Butterfly (27.50), 100m Butterfly (1:01.98), 200m Individual Medley (2:23.08) and 400m Individual Medley (5:09.05).
Hashel excelled at school level by becoming Under-14 Boys Champion at the Inter-International School Swimming Championship held at the Sugathadasa Swimming Pool. He won three gold medals in the 50m Butterfly, 100m Butterfly and 200m Individual Medley and also set two new meet records at this meet.
At the National and Junior National Long Course Swimming Championship 2025, he again showed his strength by winning one gold, one silver and two bronze medals. His main highlight was the gold medal in the 100m Butterfly with a time of 1:04.25. He also won silver in the 400m Individual Medley and bronze medals in the 50m Butterfly and 200m Individual Medley.
One of his finest performances came at the 50th Sri Lanka Schools Swimming Championship 2025, where he won three gold medals to become the Under-14 Boys Champion. His winning times were 2:36.68 in the 200m Individual Medley, 1:06.09 in the 100m Butterfly and 28.99 in the 50m Butterfly.
Representing Western Province at the National School Games Swimming Championship 2025, Hashel dominated the Under-14 category with three gold medals. He clocked 29.86 in the 50m Butterfly, 1:05.91 in the 100m Butterfly and 2:35.37 in the 200m Individual Medley. During this meet, he also set one new meet record, completing his total of three new meet records for the year.
Competing against older swimmers, Hashel finished third overall in the Under-15 category at the National Age Group Aquatic Swimming Championship 2025. He won two gold medals, one silver and two bronze medals, with key performances of 2:36.82 in the 200m Butterfly and 1:06.49 in the 100m Butterfly.
At provincial and club level, Hashel maintained his winning form. He captured three gold medals at the Western Province School Games 2025 and emerged champion at the Gold March Single Age Group Junior Swimming Championship 2025, where he won four gold medals and one silver medal across butterfly, freestyle and individual medley events.
Training under double Olympian Matthew Abeysinghe at Killer Whale Aquatics, Hashel has also dominated club competitions such as the Killer Whale Aquatics Swimming Gala 2025. He has been an all-time champion at Inter-Gateway College and Inter-House swimming meets.
Even before his breakthrough year, Hashel showed early promise in 2024 by winning the Pentathlon Swimming Championship and setting a new meet record of 2:48.36 in the 200m Butterfly at the National Age Group Swimming Championship.
