Swimming: Matthew and Kimiko confident for Rio Olympics challenge

In the Sri Lanka contingent to Rio Olympics, the highest representation is from Athletics. 

Besides athletics, the next is Swimming where Mathew Duncan Abeysinghe and Kimiko Shihara Raheem will battle it out with the world's leading champion swimmers. 

Mathew qualified from Olympic 'B' grade timing and Kimiko is a wild card entry. In history of Sri Lankan swimmers at Olympics since 1948, Mathew is the first swimmer to get qualified to take part in the Olympics. 

Matthew's specialized event is 100m Freestyle. 

His best timing was 50.53 seconds in the Age group Championships in Hong Kong last month. 

Kimiko's pet event is 100 meters backstroke. 

Matthew was born March 19, 1996 in Hazelton, Pennsylvania, USA. 

His coach throughout was his father Manoj Abeysinghe. 

His brother Andrew, Kyle and Dillon all represented Sri Lanka. 

Together they hold the Sri Lankan national record for the Men's 4x50m Medley Relay. 

In the last South Asian Games in India, Mathew bagged 7 Golds, 2 Silvers and 1 Bronze medal. 

He won the seven Gold medals in 50m freestyle, 200m freestyle, 400m freestyle, 100m freestyle, 400m medley, 200m medley and 4x100m freestyle. 

Matthew is the current Sri Lankan record holder in the 50m freestyle (23.62 seconds), 100m freestyle (50.53 seconds), 200m freestyle (1:52.45 seconds), 400m freestyle (4:03.90 seconds), 1500m freestyle (16: 23.61seconds), 50m backstroke (26.94 seconds), 200m individual medley (2:07.33 seconds), 400m individual medley (4:42.22 seconds) and 100m butterfly stroke (55.32 seconds). 

Matthew also created history in Sri Lankan Swimming at SAG, by winning highest number of Gold medals. 

He won seven in this year's games in India and broke the 25 year record held by Julian Bolling who finished with six Golds at the 1991 games in Colombo. 

Further he has represented Sri Lanka in 13 international swimming competitions. 

He was the first Sri Lankan and only male swimmer to hold all freestyle national records. 

Matthew's father Manoj, as the coach stated.

"Matthew can be labeled as one of the best swimmers emerged from the rest. In the Olympic history Sri Lankan swimmers has represented eight Olympics. They are 1952 (Helsinki), 1960 (Rome), 1984 (Los Angeles), 1988 (Seoul), 1992 (Barcelona), 1996 (Atlanta), 2000 (Sydney), 2004 (Athens), 2008 (Beijing) and 2012 (London). Of all this, Mathew is the first swimmer to represent Sri Lanka after getting qualified. From his childhood days Mathews showed desire and capability in swimming. Both of our aim is to finish the 100 meter free style in 49 seconds. I anticipate Mathew will achieve this target laid down. These days I train Mathew and always behind him. After the Olympics he will back in USA to concentrate on studies". 

Kimiko Raheem was born on Jan 28, 1999. 

In the recently concluded 12th South Asian Games (SAG) in India she performed superbly to bag five Golds, setting new games records. 

She was awarded the Best Female Athlete of the Games by the Bangladesh Sports Press Association (BSPA). 

She clinched Golds in 50m backstroke, 100m backstroke, 200m backstroke, 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle and a Silver in 4-x100m freestyle. 

Kimiko was also awarded the President award for the highest female medal winner of the country recently. 

Kimiko is the sister of Mayumi, who is another swimming sensation. 

The Raheem family members are good swimmers. 

Mayumi, represented the country at the Beijing Olympics in 2008. 

Machiko, the next sister too is a good swimmer. 

In the Olympic swimming history of Sri Lanka since 1952 (Helsinki), Kimiko and Mayumi were the only two sisters to participate in Olympic games. 

Kimiko (17) also is the youngest swimmer to represent Sri Lanka in Olympics. 

Kimiko presently trains in Thailand. 

In a short time she will back in Sri Lanka to join the Sri Lanka team contingent to Brazil. 

Her father Airline Captain Mohammed Ramzee Raheem and mother Ranjika said: "These days Kimiko is hard at training in Bangkok. Her plan is to do her best in the chosen event. She missed the Olympic qualifying timing by fracture of seconds. According to the FINA (Fe'de'ration Internationale De Natation or the Organisation for administering International competition in Aquatics) point system the difference between Mathew and Kimiko was just a single point. Her official Olympic coach too will be Manoj Abeysinghe."