Will Lee be ready for Olympics?

Leslie FERNANDO

Olympic swimmer Daniel Lee, currently the most promosing swimmer of the country presently attached to Monash University Swimming Academy in Australia is performing well at the Australian State Schools Swimming meets. His main aim is to swim at the 11th South Asian Games to be held in Dhaka, Bangladesh in November this year and bring honour to the country wining gold medals.

The 19-year-old Sri Lankan 'powerhouse' who has represented the country in Beijing Olympic Games, 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 the free style specialist fared well at the 2006 South Asian Games held in Colombo winning three silver medals. But was not lucky enough to win gold medals due to reasons known to him. He is a good bet for bigger achievements to come.

This young swimmer was not included to swim at the Beijing Olympics 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.

He also established three Sri Lankan records at the FINA World Swimming Championships Short Course Meet held in China in 2006. At the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games entered the second round in 50 and 100 metres free style.

Lee despite being stationed in Australia has participated in several Sri Lanka Aquatic Sports Union conducted meets representing the Asian International School, Colombo.

He has helped the Asian International School to become overall champions at the Inter International Schools swimming championships several times.

He was selected as the men's champion swimmer at the Inter International Schools swimming championships.

Lee also brought honour and glory to the school at the Pentathlon Swimming Championships, Age Group Swimming Championships and at the National Swimming Championships.

Lee is a self-made swimmer. He took to swimming when he was just 8 years old.

Lanky Lee told the Daily News that he has been to Australia on five occasions before and after his selection to the SAF Games Swimming team 2006 and did my best to win three silver medals in the 50, 100 and 200 metres free style events. The South Asian Games is the first international exposure for Daniel Lee and he is very pleased with his performances. Lee's main target was to swim at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and his dream came true.

Lee added that his next target after the 11th South Asian Games in Dhaka, Bangladesh 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 skills for better results explained. Lee never wavers from the strict schedule he has to maintain in order to keep in shape.

He is also a member of the Nunawading Swimming Centre down under, is hopeful of continuing his swimming career in the years to come.

Lee has gained vast experience in training in Australia like Andrew Abeysinghe training in USA and Mayumi Raheem swimming and studying in Singapore. Three swimmers Lee, Andrew and Mayumi has been closely followed by the writer for a long time.