Lee selected to Beijing

Leslie Fernando

Daniel Lee now the most promsing male swimmer who has brought and continues to bring fame and honour to Sri Lanka has finally made it to the Beijing Olympic Games to be held in China in August.

Daniel who is back from Australia after training and competing at the state championships there was to face the special trial conducted by the Interim Committee of Sri Lanka Aquatic Sports Union.

But on the recommendation by the FINA world body for swimming he was picked along with other female swimmer Mayumi Raheem to represent Sri Lanka. The 19-year old Sri Lanka 'powerhouse' Lee who has represented the country at two

World Swimming Championships, Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and South Asian Games proved to be the fastest free style swimmer in Victoria State Schools.

Lee who swam at the Catholic Schools Swimming meet along with 180 competitors in Melbourne won the 100 metres free style 'clocking' 54.24 secs and bettered his own national record.

He also won the 50 metres free style event with a time of 24.24 secs to erase the national record of 24.72 secs held by Heshan Unamboowe of Trinity College. Former International School swimmer Lee is attached to Monash University swimming Academy and he has done his share of training under Ross Price, Australian coach who has trained sthree Olympic Medalists.

He also qualified to swim in the 50 metres free style event at the Australian Open Short Course Championships. Lee is what one may call a self made swimmer.

'I did not really check on my recent timings in the 50,100,200 metres free style and 200 metres individual medley but if I do anything better than what I did in Australia it should be a bonus for me' Lee said.

Lanky Lee added that he has been to Australia on four occasions before and after his selection to the SAF Games swimming team 2006 and did my best to win three gold medals in the 50,100,200 metres free style events.

He also established three Sri Lanka records at the FINA World Swimming Championships Short Course Meet held in China in 2006. At the commonwealth Games and Asian Games Lee entered the second round in two events.

Lee who is also a member of the Nunawading swimming centre down under is hopeful of continuing his swimming career in the years to come.

I gained vast experience training in Australia and also competing at the Australian State Schools Swimming Championships and fared well.

Lee's main target was to swim at the Olympic Games now it has been a dream come true for him.

I will do my utmost to bring honour to Sri Lanka at the Beijing Olympics, said Daniel whose swimming career has been closely followed by the writer for a long time. Lee added that his next target is to swim at the 2012 Olympic Games in Manchester, London, Lee undergoes nine swim sessions three gym sessions and physiotherapy sessions in a week and does not complain.

This is because to improve his technical skills for better results explained.

Lee never wavers from the strict schedule he has to maintain in order to keep in shape. Daniel is thankful to his parents for their valuable assistance and encouragement extended to him in swimming.