Sri Lanka girls' proud achievement win Bronze Medal

Synchronised swimming got a shot in-the-arm when the girls team that went to Japan for the Japan Open Synchronised Swimming Championships 2006 won the bronze medal at the team championship. This was the first time that Sri Lanka won a medal at international competition.

Olympic silver medalists Japan emerged as the champions at this Championships while Malaysia won the silver medal.

There were around 11 countries that participated in the event and Sri Lanka's effort in winning a bronze medal is commendable.

The Sri Lanka team comprised: Dehara Katapearchchi, Dilini Kithsiri, Deethri Samarajeewa and the Games sisters - Elisha and Shahili. The team was coached by Gayani Warnapura and Karen White from Canada who worked tirelessly in getting the team into peak fitness for the international competition.

Synchronised swimming is a sport revolving around endurance, flexibility and grace, besides this, it requires exceptional breath control. This makes it possible for our Sri Lankan girls to be competitive as it is not a sport which demands extensive strength or physique.

It looks like perhaps the most effortless event in the Olympic Games, but there is more to synchronised swimming than what appears on the surface. Besides demanding strength, endurance, flexibility, grace and artistry, it requires exceptional breath control.

Synchronised Swimming consists of a technical routine and a free routine, each performed to music within a time limit. In the technical routine, swimmers perform specific moves in a set order, including boosts, rockets, thrusts and twirls. In the free routine there are no restrictions on music or choreography. Judges of each routine look for a high degree of difficulty and risk, flawless execution, innovative choreography and seemingly effortless performance.

There is a high level of interest among Sri Lankan swimming officials in taking synchronised swimming to the forefront.