The 29th International Schools Swimming Championship (IISSC) showcased a remarkable display of talent, with 871 swimmers from 21 schools competing across a variety of events. Held from November 9-10, the event highlighted Lyceum International School, Wattala, securing its 11th consecutive title with an outstanding total of 1013 points, while Lyceum Int Ratnapura finished as the runner-up with 963 points.
Lyceum Wattala’s swimmers excelled across all age categories, from Under 10 to Under 20, amassing high scores and breaking multiple records. Their strong performances in freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and individual medleys cemented their position at the top of the standings.
This year’s championship saw several records shattered by young athletes:
– Boys Under 10: Sethun Rajapaksha from Lyceum Panadura set a new record in the 100m Freestyle with a time of 1:15.45.
– Boys Under 14: Dulaksha Ganidu from Lyceum Ratnapura set records in both the 100m and 200m Freestyle events with times of 59.12 and 2:12.5, respectively.
– Girls Under 14: Heshara De Silva of Lyceum Ratnapura broke the record in the 100m Backstroke with a time of 1:14.9.
– Boys Under 16: Okitha Gunasekera from Elizabeth Moir School excelled with records in the 200m Individual Medley (2:19.18), 100m Freestyle (54.89), and 200m Freestyle (2:01.1).
– Girls Under 16: Yunaya Perera of Lyceum Ratnapura set a new record in the 100m Freestyle, completing the race in 1:03.4.
– Boys Under 20: Shaqib Riyaj from Stafford International School set a record in the 200m Individual Medley with a time of 2:18.1, while Vinul Senanayake from Wycherley International School broke the 50m Breaststroke record at 31.36 seconds.
– Girls Under 20: Hiruki De Silva from Gateway College, Colombo, set records in the 100m IM (2:30.9), 200m Freestyle (2:12.1), and 50m Freestyle (27.97).
The following swimmers emerged as age group champions, each accumulating points through outstanding individual performances:
– Under 10 Girls: Wonushi Wijesinghe (Lyceum Wattala) – 3 Gold Medals (45 pts)
– Under 10 Boys: Sethun Rajapaksha (Lyceum Panadura) – 3 Gold Medals, 1 Record (47 pts)
– Under 12 Girls: Rusansa Lokuwithana (Royal Institute) – 3 Gold Medals (45 pts)
– Under 12 Boys: Onel Perera (Stafford International School) – 2 Gold Medals, 1 Silver (40 pts)
– Under 14 Girls: K K Dilushi Dilshara (Lyceum Wattala) – 3 Gold Medals (45 pts)
– Under 14 Boys: Dulaksha Ganidu (Lyceum Ratnapura) – 3 Gold Medals, 2 Records (49 pts)
– Under 16 Girls: Yunaya Perera (Lyceum Ratnapura) – 3 Gold Medals, 1 Record (47 pts)
– Under 16 Boys: Okitha Gunasekera (Elizabeth Moir School) – 3 Gold Medals, 3 Records (51 pts)
– Under 20 Girls: Hiruki De Silva (Gateway College, Colombo) – 3 Gold Medals, 3 Records (51 pts)
– Under 20 Boys: Shaqib Riyaj (Stafford International School) – 2 Gold Medals, 1 Silver, 1 Record (42 pts)
Swimmers across age groups engaged in fierce competition, with events like the Boys Under 14 100m Freestyle and Girls Under 12 200m Individual Medley offering narrow finishes and exhilarating races.
The championship concluded with an awards ceremony celebrating the achievements of all participants. Lyceum Wattala’s 11th consecutive title win solidifies its legacy in school swimming, as the event once again underscored the growth and enthusiasm for competitive swimming among international schools.
 showcased a remarkable display of talent, with 871 swimmers from 21 schools competing across a variety of events. Held from November 9-10, the event highlighted Lyceum International School, Wattala, securing its 11th consecutive title with an outstanding total of 1013 points, while Lyceum Int Ratnapura finished as the runner-up with 963 points.){kind=link}