Conrad Francis to coach swimmers here

By Leslie FERNANDO

SWIMMING: One of Sri Lanka's outstanding swimmers - Conrad Francis who has acquired high-tech training and obtained the Level II Bronze Licence for coaching with additional qualification of being a Gym Instructor KINECT, Australia, Level II is back in Sri Lanka and this time he is willing to part some of the things he learnt in Australia to the promotion of swimmers here.

Conrad Francis, is here on invitation to assist E. G. A. Wilson, a former Sri Lanka Army and national swimmer and former national coach to impart his knowledge to local swimmers. He has already begun his assignment at the Sugathadasa Stadium swimming pool and a large number of talented and potential swimmers are making use of the facilities of learning something from a champion.

Swimming training camps are an ideal opportunity for swimmers to train in a 50-metre pool, said Conrad who qualified as a coach from Australian Swimming Coaches Teachers Association (ASCTA).

Asked as to why he took to swimming coaching, Conrad said, "My first love is swimming and my ambition is to give back something to the sport which has given me immense pride and brought me to international fame. I want to pass on the experience and knowledge that I've gained over the years to others so that Sri Lanka can have quality.

"There is plenty of talent in the country to develop. The really good swimmers should be identified and taken care of and given specialised training. The knowledge of our coaches has to be updated constantly with coaching clinics. Swimming has a future in Sri Lanka, provided it is guided on the right path", Francis added.

A former Josephian and Sri Lanka swimmer, Francis has won many accolades from numerous institutions for his talent in swimming.

He represented Sri Lanka at the 'Sydney Olympics 2000' and 'Athens Olympics 2004'. In the year 2007, he was honoured being the winner of JCI TOYP award for personal accomplishment in sport.

He was honoured at the 2008 National Sporting Honours Award Ceremony held at BMICH. The 27-year-old Conrad Francis began his swimming career at the age of 9 years at St. Joseph's College. His swimming records at school, club, national and international level stands at III. The writer has followed Francis progress since he participated in China in 1992. He was the youngest ever recipient to be awarded the 'Josephian Award of Excellence'. In 1996 NOC of Sri Lanka identified him as a promising swimmer to be awarded the IOC Solidarity Scholarship via Australia Sports Linkage Programme and sponsored by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

The scholarship not only afforded him to improve his standard of swimming but also offered him academic studies at Rowville Secondary College where he has been inducted into the Hall of Fame. Furthering his education at Swinburn University he was inducted into the Board of Olympians and made a trustee of their Sports Foundation.

Wilson who has coached Royal, RCUAC, Sri Lanka, Army, Ladies College, Trinity College, Mahamaya College Kandy swimmers and accompanied as the official coach of Sri Lanka swimming teams on 17 occasions said that he values Conrad's great knowledge in swimming training and he is happy to have accepted my invitation to assist him.