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| Sunday, 18 April 2004 |
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Lanka's golden boy of swimming Conrad wants to be among world's best by LESLIE FERNANDO Ace Sri Lanka swimmer Conrad Francis, who performed the best amongst the swimmers at the recently concluded 9th SAF Games in Pakistan winning six medals,- (two gold, two silver and two bronze)- qualified to swim at the Olympic Games in Athens in August 2004. Francis, who left for Australia yesterday (April 17), in an exclusive interview with the 'Sunday Observer', said that he was happy about his performances at the SAF Games. "It was my 3rd SAF Games and I was really proud winning my first gold medal in the 100 metres butterfly stroke with a new Games record 56.35 secs and also winning the second gold in the 50 metres butterfly stroke, a new event at the SAF Games and the best timing of 26.11 secs. I was also able to win two silvers in 50 and 100 metres breast stroke as well as two bronze in the 4x100 metres free style relay and the 4x100 metres individual medley relay", he said. "I have improved my timings in all four events after my good showing at the Asian Age Group Swimming Championships, Macao, China where I won two gold medals for Sri Lanka in the 50 and 100 metres butterfly stroke events. I think the guidance and the encouragement given by my coach in Australia Mark Thompson paved the way for my winning a double gold medals in Pakistan," he went on. With regard to his plans for Olympic Games, Francis who holds the unique feat of over 100 records (105) in swimming, said that he will have a three and half months training programme under Mark Thompson at the Nunawading Swimming Club and Training Centre, Forest Hill, Victoria. "I will be involved in ten swimming and three gym sessions for a week to improve my timings. I am sure that Mark Thompson will offer his best possible services during my training period and I hope to be the best swimmer with his motivation, encouragement and strategies. I will have the great opportunity to train with some of the top Australian swimmers including Brooke Hanson who will swim at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games. Brooke is also a member of the same club as mine. Nunawading Swimming Club and Training Centre is one of the three top clubs in Melbourne and overall amongst best five in Australia". He added that he hoped to participate in the Australian Grand Prix Series in June-July with the Australian Olympic swimming squad also competing. It will be a very good challenge for me. At the Athens Olympics I will swim in my pet event 100 metres butterfly stroke and my main ambition is to go flat out and to obtain the maximum position to be amongst the top 16 in the world. Francis, who has the distinction of being the Sri Lankan to have competed in the most number of major international meets, Olympics, World Championships, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, Asia Pacific Meets, Asian Age Group Swimming Championships and the SAF Games, will in addition follow a 2-year course in Sports and Recreation Management and Science in Australia. Earlier, he completed a Computer System and Electronic Engineering Course underlining a successful potential in the academic field as well. He is a Level-I swimming coach (Green Licence) and a Bronze Medallion in Life Saving and pool Guard. His aim is to become a Level-II coach soon. Francis is grateful to the Old Joes Club in Melbourne and Sydney for extending tremendous support for his swimming development and also his Sri Lankan friends and colleagues in Australia. He also thanked the Rector, St. Joseph's College, his parents, NAASU, NOC, Sports Ministry officials, coach E. G. A. Wilson and Rajeev Senanayake, Manager Swimming Squad to SAF Games for their support and assistance. Francis, who said that, 'I thank the Lord, God for His great blessings,' added that he was also grateful to his 'alma mater' where he cut his teeth in swimming. "It is at St. Joseph's that I learnt the rudiments of swimming in my early days in the sport," said Francis who went on to pay a tribute to his longtime coach, Ruwan Manawadu, and the late Shirley Abeysena and Ranil Gunasena, both of whom showed him the way. |
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