Clement Medonca overcame 'By-Pass Open Heart Surgery' and swims even now

By A. C. de Silva

SWIMMING: Once a swimmer, always a swimmer is the popular accepted norm of the swimming fraternity in and around the world, especially in India and Sri Lanka. This is especially applicable to former Bombay swimmer and Waterpolo player Clement Medonca who was a friend of many swimmers in Sri Lanka around 30 to 40 years ago.

Swimming is something that Clement fancied from his young days and his desire to have a 'go' in swimming has enabled him to get through many barriers.

Take this for example. He has gone through a By-Pass Open Heart Surgery in 2003 and has come through it with no problems at all. His swimming has given many patients with heart-related problems some food for thought.

Clement's advice to those people with heart-related complaints: "Don't worry, be active and lead a normal life."

He plays Waterpolo for India against Sri Lanka at the Indo-Sri Lanka Aquatic duels some years back and though he has kept off Waterpolo for sometime, he has continued with swimming right through.

Last year, Clement bagged four wins in the 65-69 age group at the National Masters Aquatic championships in 2006 with four records in the four events that he swam at the Thiruvantapuram in Kerala.

His timings: 100 metres Breast Stroke 1 min. 59.47 secs. 50 metres Breast Stroke 45.34 seconds, 50 metres Butterfly Stroke 46.54 seconds and 50 metres Freestyle 38.79 seconds. Came last year and Clement was at it again. It was once again the National Masters Aquatic Championships 2007 on December 29 and 30 in Andheri. He swam four events again and won four Gold Medals.

The timings: 100 metres Butterfly Stroke 1 min 55.75 seconds, 50 metres Butterfly Stroke 44.71 seconds (a new National record), 50 metres Breast Stroke 47.84 seconds, 50 metres Freestyle 41.71 seconds.

At this year's meet, there were 630 competitors from 25 years to 80 plus and Medonca participated in the 65-69 age group.