Swimmer Conrad Fancis wins prestigious TOYP award

by Leslie Fernando

SWIMMING: Conrad Francis - former Josephian and Sri Lanka swimming ace is the winner of the JCI TOYP 2007 award for personal accomplishment - Sport.

The swimming ace Conrad swam for Sri Lanka at the Sydney Olympics 2000 and Athens Olympics 2004 and his participation at these two big events probably paved the way for him to the big awards.

Right now, he is the swimming coach and instructor at Swinergy and Customer Service Officer at Swinburne University in Melbourne.

The TOYP (The Outstanding young Persons') Program serves to recognise ten outstanding individuals whose personal and professional achievements in a chosen field are exemplary, outstanding and nationally beneficial.

In short, the TOYP Awards Program attempt to highlight and confer national recognition of these achievements and contributions to serve as an example and incentive for youth of our country to channel their energies in the right direction and create a positive change in the community.

Conrad who swam in his first international meet in 1992 at the Asia Pacific Age Group Swimming Championships in Bejing, China 1992, opened the door for him for better performances in the meets that followed at School, club, national and international level and his tally of records stand at 110.

Delighted

Conrad who has graduated in Sports Management and Recreation at the Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne, in a telephone conversation from down under said that he was delighted being selected to one of the prestigious awards.

"My aim is to impart all my learning and experience to Sri Lanka sports. For this award conrad's name was nominated by Isbahani Sameen 1989 JCI (Junior Chamber International) World President.

Conrad, the only swimmer to swim in two Olympics, is also the only Sri Lankan to get two gold medals at the Asian Age Group Swimming Championships in Macau, China (both were new meet records) in 2003.

He began his swimming career at the age of 9 years, went on to receive the Certificate of Honour awarded for the most prestigious Josephian Blue, he also received Josephian colours in 1996 for performances in swimming.

In 1996, National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka identified him as a promising swimmer and awarded the IOC Solidarity Scholarship via Australia Sports Linkage Program and it was sponsored by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

The Australian Sports Commission arranged coaching facilities with the Nunawading Swimming Club in Victoria and Academic studies at the Rowville Secondary College.

Achievements

Some of Conrad's educational and sporting achievements in Australia: Completed Secondary Education at Rowville Secondary College in 1999 and successfully completed Victorian Certificate of Education. VCE Leader in the year 1998 and 1999.

He was awarded the Best Sportsman of the year in 1997 and 1998 representing VSSA Swimming in Sydney.

Awarded certificate for most consistent student in year 12, award of excellence in sports (swimming in 1997 and 1998). He is listed on the Olympian Club of Olympians victoria.

Qualifications

Undergraduate at the Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne, Australia. Studying for a Diploma/Degree in Sports Development, Recreation and Management, Completed certificate IV in Computer Electronic Engineering. Graduated on 24th May 2007 in Sports Management and Recreation at the Swinburn University of Technology in Melbourne, Australia.