Bolling one of the best swim coaches

Anushka WITHANAGE

Among hundreds of swimming coaches in Sri Lanka, David Bolling is one of the best these days. In fact, David has in a 29 year long career dedicated his life to coaching quality skills to children of all ages.

Today, for one who had to give up his swimming career as a competitor midway, David has swum the distance as a coach.

Having launched his coaching career through the Rainbow Swimming International (RSI) which he set up in January 2008, David conducts Swimming courses from children to adults at the CCC or CH and FC, Austasia and Premadasa Riding school.

David’s coaching mission has found muscle through his highly qualified coaching staff namely Ranathunga, Perera, Janaka, Dangalla, Shane, Dilhani, Indunil and Asela.

These life guards conduct comprehensive training courses for enthusiastic school children and youngsters.

With accent on fitness, David’s Rainbow Swimming International which was renamed Bolling swimming Academy early this year has utilized the services of Dr. Asanga Wijeratne.

And already David has shown results. Some of his charges who have impressed at the National Championships 2008 are Tessa Alexander placed 4th in 100m Freestyle 1:08:76 (Two Mile Swim 2009), Cindy Nanayakkara placed 4th at the two mile swim at Mount Lavinia (Novice Championship 2009), Sharon Perera placed 1st in 50m breast stroke under 12-47:60:00, Ashanthi Sumanapala placed 2nd 50m Freestyle under 14-45:00:00. Many more qualified in the Novice’s categories.

David has represented Sri Lanka at the Indo-Bangladesh-Sri Lanka Triangular Aquatic meet in 1978 winning a Gold medal in the 1500 freestyle. He won the 150m freestyle at the Sri Lanka national Aquatic Championships in 1978 and also won the 6-mile sea swim establishing a new record of 2:24 in 1980.