Shevinda de Silva win Sportsman of the Year 2019 title
Shevinda de Silva
Seventeen-year-old Shevinda de Silva, of Colombo International School became the Sportsman of the Year 2019, at the Western Province Schools Colours Award Ceremony held at Royal College Auditorium on December 27, 2019.
This young swimmer had represented Sri Lanka in many international swimming championships, including the recently concluded 13th South Asian Games, 2019 which was held in Nepal, Kathmandu, where he won two bronze medals in 100metre Backstroke and 50metre Backstroke events.
Shevinda represented Sri Lanka at the World Schools Swimming Championship held in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil and the FINA World Junior Swimming Championship held in Budapest, Hungary during mid 2019.
He also took part in numerous national swimming championships and performed exceptionally, breaking many national records. He set three new meet records at the National Sports Festival 2019, while competing in six events. Shevinda’s three new meet records came in the Men’s 200m Backstroke, Men’s 200m Freestyle Relay and 200m Medley Relay events. He was also part of the Men’s 4x50m Medley Relay that won the first place and also placed second in the Men’s 100m Backstroke and 50m Backstroke events.
Shevinda recorded two each of second and third places at the National Short Course Swimming Championship 2019. Competing in the Open Category, he was placed second in the Men’s 50m Backstroke and 200m Backstroke events. He was placed third in the Men’s 100m Backstroke and Men’s 100m Freestyle events.
At the 46th Sri Lanka Schools Aquatic Sports Championship, Shevinda won four events while establishing a new meet record in the Boys 200m Backstroke event. He also went on to win the Men’s 100m Backstroke, Men’s 50m Backstroke and Men’s 4x100m Medley Relay events. The aspiring swimmer also won the Boys 200m Backstroke event at the All-Island School Games 2019.
At the National Aquatic Championship 2019 Shevinda recorded three second place finishes in the Men’s Open 50m Backstroke, 100m Backstroke and 200m Backstroke events. He also claimed two wins and a second slot at the 25th Inter-International Schools Swimming Championship 2019, winning the Boys 50m Backstroke and Boys 100m Backstroke events and placing second in the Boys 50m Butterfly.
Young Shevinda, started his journey in swimming under the guidance of Ruwan Manawadu and currently is been coached by Julian Bowling at Rainbow Swimming Academy. He was thankful for the guidance given by Julian Bowling and the tremendous support he receive from Colombo International School teachers and the principal, Sarah Phillip which helps him immensely to balance both sports and studies well.