Conrad first to qualify for Asian, CW Games

By Leslie FERNANDO

Conrad Francis, the butterfly and breast stroke specialist who has represented Sri Lanka at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and 2004 Athans Olympic Games proved his class winning all three events he participated at the selection trial held to pick swimmers for the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games to be held in India and China this year. The trials were conducted by the Sri Lanka Aquatic Sports Union (SLASU) at the Police swimming pool yesterday.

Conrad swam in style to reach the standard set by SLASU by winning the 50 metres breast stroke `clocking' 32.03 secs. (qualifying time: 35.72 secs), 100 metres breast with a time of 58.61 secs (qualifying time 1.19.55 secs) and 50 metres butterfly stroke - 26.42 secs (qualifying time 29.66 secs).

He is the only swimmer to represent Sri Lanka in most of the FINA conducted international meets up to date and he has performed creditably well winning goal, silver and bronze medals for Sri Lanka.

According to his present performance Conrad will be an automatic choice for the forthcoming Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games.

He has acquired high tech training and obtained the Level II Bronze Licence for coaching with additional qualification of being a Gym Instructor KINECT, Auastralia. He was the first swimmer to win two gold medals at the Asian Age Group Swimming Championships in Macau with new meet records.

In addition to his regular training he has already started to coaching. Conrad has the distinction of being only swimmer to have completed in the most number of major international meets. He also fared well at the 11th South Asian Games held in Dhaka, Bangladesh in January winning three medals.