Heshan Unamboowe - first Trinity 'Lion' in swimming

by Leslie Fernando

Swimming: Heshan Unamboowe, the youngest Sri Lanka overall swimming captain, became the first swimmer to win the prestigious Lion Award at the Trinity College prize day held at the college hall in Kandy.

To become a 'Trinity Lion' a person has to perform at an high level in studies or sports. So the 16 year-old golden boy in swimming Unamboowe, achieved it, performing superbly in swimming.

Unamboowe has done his school proud with his superb performances, swimming with the best competitors here and abroad.

A Back Stroke specialist, he started his swimming career at the age of 8 years and has got 68 records at school, national and international level. He has won National Age Group Swimming Championship and the Pentathlon Championship eight times in-a-row. It means he has become champion in the under-10 (twice), under-12 (twice), under-14 (twice) and under-16 (twice) - a creditable feat.

Heshan put up remarkable performances in the year 2007 to be the best male swimmer in the country. He established national record in the 2007 All-Island Schools Swimming Championships in the 200 metres individual medley and erased the national record held by Andrew Abeysinghe.

He also set up a new Sri Lanka record at the 2007 National Swimming Meet in the 50 metres Back Stroke 28.17 secs, Heshan who won all five events at the Nationals - 50 m Back Stroke, 1500 m Free Style, 200 m Individual medley, 100 m Free Style and 100 m Breast Stroke was selected as the best men's swimmer.

At the 2007 Sri Lanka School's Swimming Meet, Heshan who won all five events and was selected the best swimmer among the boys. He showed his class in the Short Course National Swimming Championships, Age Group Swimming Championships and Pentathlon Swimming Championships, becoming champion in the under-16 age category.

Unamboowe has brought laurels to the country at the Asia Pacific Age Group Swimming Championships held in Indonesia in 2005 and 2006, winning two gold medals, two silver medals and one bronze medal. He captained Sri Lanka Swimming team at the 1st South Asia Swimming and Waterpolo Championships held in Islamabad, Pakistan in September 2007.

He was the 'star' swimmer among men's swimmers. He won two gold medals in 200 metres Free Style and 50 m Free Style. He set new national records in both these events. Heshan also won Silver Medals in 200 m, 50 m and 100 m Back Stroke, 200 m Individual Medley.

Heshan also represented the NOC of Sri Lanka at the Swimming Talent Identification held in Thailand in 2005. He has represented Sri Lanka at several International Meets and he is currently the most promising male swimmer of the country.