Sri Lanka’s young open water swimming stars made a commendable showing at the recently concluded World Aquatics Open Water Swimming Junior World Championships 2024 in Alghero, Italy from September 05th to 08th. The island nation’s representatives displayed remarkable resilience and determination, competing against some of the world’s best young swimmers where more than 200 open water athletes, representing 35 countries competed in this event.
Minagi Rupasinghe led the Sri Lankan charge in the women’s 10km event, finishing in a respectable 29th place with a time of 2.36.02. Her performance showcased her endurance and ability to navigate the challenging open water conditions.
In the men’s 7.5km event, Tharusha Perera and Methvan Fernando put in solid efforts, securing 44th and 46th place finishes respectively. Their times of 1.34.00 and 1.34.45 demonstrated their competitive spirit and growing skills in the open water gaining the new experience competing at world stage.
The men’s 3km knockout sprint event saw Tharusha Perera and Charan Rupasinghe competing in Heat 01. Perera finished 25th with a time of 18.14.03, while Rupasinghe placed 28th in 19.03.10. Both swimmers displayed impressive speed and endurance in the shorter distance format.
Minagi Rupasinghe once again represented Sri Lanka in the women’s 3km knockout sprint event (Heat 01), securing 21st place with a time of 19.06.40. Her performance highlighted her versatility and ability to excel in both formats in open water events.
The Sri Lankan junior swimmers’ participation in the World Open Water Junior Championships was a valuable learning experience as it was an opportunity for Sri Lanka after long awaited years. Competing against the best in the world has undoubtedly boosted their confidence and motivated them to strive for even greater heights. With continued dedication and training, these young athletes have the potential to become future stars of Sri Lankan open water swimming.
Sri Lanka’s representation at the World Open Water Junior Championships was a testament to the growing talent and depth of the country’s open water swimming program. The junior athletes’ performances have brought pride and inspiration to the nation, and their future achievements are eagerly anticipated.
