Stunning display by HFC swimmer Jessie

A triumphant display of aquatic prowess by butterfly specialist Jessie Seneviratne, hailing from the Holy Family Convent, left spectators astounded as she clinched two new meet records in the MILO-sponsored 48th Sri Lanka Schools’ Aquatic Sports Championships, concluded at the Sugathadasa Stadium Swimming Pool Complex yesterday.

Competing in the Senior Category’s Under-18 Age Group, Seneviratne delivered a stunning performance on the third day of the five-day event.

She shattered the previous record in the 50m Girls Under-18 finals, touching the wall with a remarkable time of 30.25 seconds, seizing the gold medal. This impressive feat erased the previous record of 30.51 seconds, set by Hiruni Perera of Harischandra College Negombo in 2016.

Guided by the coaching expertise of Shehan Dias, Seneviratne’s brilliance continued to shine on the fourth day of the competition. She secured the 100m Butterfly gold medal with astonishing precision, setting a new meet record with a time of 1:07.54. This exceptional performance eclipsed the prior record of 1:08.64, also established by Hiruni Perera of Harischandra College Negombo in 2016.

Speaking about her remarkable achievements, Seneviratne expressed her surprise and joy, “Actually, it was unexpected, with the guidance of coach Shehan (Dias), my mom I actually did it. I never thought I am happy. I am over the moon. I have to thank all the coaches, all the way here. I thank all my loved ones,” Seneviratne said, beaming with pride after her record-breaking triumphs at the Sugathadasa Stadium Swimming Pool.

Seneviratne’s coach, Shehan Dias, shared insights into her journey to success, stating, “Jessie’s plan was laid out a year ago, looking at her past, this meet has not been impossible, we knew it was possible. About a year ago, she had the potential and was selected to compete in the Singapore Nationals competitions recently as well.”

Despite narrowly missing the cut for the Junior World Championships set to be held in Israel this September, Seneviratne’s consistent dedication and excellence have been evident. Coach Dias praised her continued progress, saying, “Continuously she has been hitting the mark, even at the concluded Nationals. At Nationals, she was actually faster, completing the 50m Butterfly in 29.95 seconds.”

Reflecting on her performance on the international stage, Coach Dias highlighted, “I think after Aniqah Gaffoor went to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, she was the next fastest on the 50m butterfly. Only two Lankan swimmers have broken the 30-second barrier in the recent past, which is a testament to our local training efforts. While she may have slightly deviated from her personal best at this meet, she clinched both records, and we are very positive about the big things to come.”

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