Pasan Muthumala going 'great guns' in swimming 'Down Under'

By Leslie Fernando

SWIMMING: Free-style specialist Pasan Muthumala, former Trinity and National swimmer who has achieved great success in studies and swimming in Australia is back here on holiday.

Muthumala's first love was swimming and he has brought honour to his school and country. At the age of 14, he won the 1,500 metres free-style event at the National Championships. He continued his good performances then on and represented the country at a number of international competitions Asia Pacific Swimming Championships in Malaysia, India and China. He won diplomas at all three meets.

He left for Australia in 2003 to study and further improve in swimming. He has been swimming in Australia, competing in the Ocean which is called the Open Water Swimming in Australia which is very popular and watched by over twenty five thousand swimming fans.

He has been delivering some great results in the water. Last December he came 22nd in the Rip View Swim Classic from a field of the 1,300 competions and in January he achieved 13th place in the Danger 1,000 men's open and 4th place in the Rock to Ramp (1.2 kilometres) men's open at Angelsea.

Pasan is currently training for the 2007 Open Water Swim Classic taking place next month. He took first place in the 750-metre event last year.

Pasan is a permanent resident of Australia, Geelong 100 kilometres away from Melbourne. He followed a course in computer degree and graduated with distinction. He is working as an IT Analyst for the Local Government in Geelong.

He was doing his studies at Deakin University and excelled in studies as well as in swimming.

Pasan has been coached by two Para-Olympic swimmers-Daniel Bell and Sarah Bowen.