COLOMBO: (ePRESS) – At just 13 years old, Rushalee Dissanayake has made history as a junior swimmer breaking the only national record at the National and World Aquatic Short Course Championships Selection Trials concluded at the Isipathana College Swimming Pool Complex on Sunday. In an impressive performance, the Musaeus College star broke the senior national women’s 1500m freestyle record, establishing her position as the youngest swimmer to join the current Sri Lanka national swimming squad.
Dissanayake’s achievement is remarkable, especially as she competes in a senior category. Her time of 18:55.44 not only shattered the previous record of 19:17.21, set by Ramudi Samarakoon of Killer Whale Aquatics (KWA), but it also displayed her talent on a national level. Her competitors struggled to keep pace, with Pamudi Jayaratne of KWA finishing second at 19:54.11 and Galina Basnayake, also from KWA, trailing with a time of 20:20.05.
The young swimmer’s success did not stop there. Dissanayake also clinched first place in the women’s senior national 800m freestyle event, clocking an impressive 9:55.21. She outperformed her closest rival, Pamudi Jayaratne, who finished at 10:09.43.
In addition to her victories, Dissanayake displayed her versatility by winning the women’s 400m individual medley, finishing at 5:43.75. This was another significant achievement, as she defeated Dinagi Gamage of Visakha Vidyalaya by seven seconds, marking her as a formidable competitor across multiple swimming disciplines.
Despite her many successes, Dissanayake faced tough competition in the women’s 200m backstroke event. She finished second with a time of 2:37.28, just behind Sithuki Yonara from Asian International School. This performance highlights her potential, as she continues to challenge herself against older and more experienced swimmers.
Dissanayake’s inclusion in the 46-member national squad is a significant milestone for her and for Sri Lankan swimming. Her achievements at such a young age signal a bright future for the sport in the country. As the youngest member of the national team, her performances will undoubtedly inspire other young swimmers to pursue their dreams.
Her journey is just beginning, and as she prepares for the upcoming championships, the swimming community will be eagerly watching to see how this precocious talent continues to develop. With her record-breaking performances, Rushalee Dissanayake is ready to become one of Sri Lanka’s leading swimmers in the years to come.