Conrad wants to start swimming academy

By Leslie Fernando

SWIMMING: Conrad Francis one of the elite Sri Lankan swimmers who has participated at several international swimming meets and produced outstanding performances, who was on a brief visit from Sydney, Australia.

He said that his ambition is to start a swimming academy in Sri Lanka. He said that he likes to impart the knowledge that he gained to others and train them to be good swimmers.

A former Josephian and Sri Lanka swimmer, Conrad, who won many accolades from numerous institutions for his talent in swimming, having represented Sri Lanka at the Sydney Olympics 2000 and Athens Olympics 2004, presently coaching and working as a trainor for Westpac Bank.

Conrad continues training in swimming at Epping Aquatic Centre and Macquarie University, Sydney. His head coach is Haydan Belshaw, a renowned Australian coach.

Conrad swam in his first international meet in 1992 at the Asia Pacific Age Group Swimming Championships in Beijing, China 1992. After 11 years Sunday Observer 25th May 2003 had the heading on Page 17 “Conrad Francis - unique feat of 100 records in swimming” and had big picture oh him.

His swimming records at school, club, national and international level stands at 111. In 1996, NOC of Sri Lanka identified him as a promising swimmer to be awarded the IOC Solidarity Scholarship via Australia Sports Linkage Program and sponsored by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

He graduated in Sports Management and Recreation at the Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne was also elected in 2006 as a trustee of the Swinburn University Sports Foundation. He was certified by KINECT Australia as qualified fitness instructor and Gym Instructor, plus swimming coach/instructor (bronze licence) at inside Edge Focus.

Career milestones - International

Conrad, in addition to participating in two Olympic Games, has represented Sri Lanka at Commonwealth Games 2002 at Manchester, Commonwealth Games in 2006 in Melbourne. FINA World Short Course Championships in Moscow, Russia 2002, FINA World Championships in Barcelona, Spain in 2003, FINA World Short Course Championships in Indianapolis, USA 2004, Asian Games in Bangkok, Thailand in 1998.

Asian Age Group Championships in Macau, South Asian Games in Pakistan in 2004, South Asian Games in Nepal in 1999, South Asian Games in India in 1995, Asia Pacific Age Group Championships in Kachsiung 1996.

Asia Pacific Age Group Championships in Korea in 1966, Asia Pacific Age Group Championships in Sri Lanka in 1995, Asia Pacific Age Group Meet in India in 1994, Asia Pacific Age Group Meet in China in 1992. Conrad has the distinction of being the only Sri Lankan to have swum in the most number of major international meets.

He has something to remember for long - he was honoured at the National Sporting Honours for Lankans at the BMICH recently and then he was earlier honoured last year being awarded JCI TOYP award for personal accomplishment in sport.

He is a devout christian and said: “I thank the Lord, God for His great blessing,” and added that he was grateful to his ‘alma mater’ - St. Joseph’s where he ‘cut his teeth’ in swimming.