Weerasinghe the first Lankan to win World Masters athletics medal
Weerasinghe first Lankan to win World Masters athletics medal
Fifty-five year old Gamini Weerasinghe of SriLankan Airlines became the first ever athlete from Sri Lanka to win a medal at the masters’ equivalent of the Olympics in track and field – the World Masters Athletics Championships, held in Finland last week.
Gamini grabbed the Bronze Medal in the 400 Metres Hurdles in the Over 55 Years age group, with a timing of 1 minute, 7.96 seconds.
Robert Stevenson of Britain won the Gold with a timing of 1 minute, 4.46 seconds, while the previous Gold medal winner, Thaddeus Wilson of the United States, won the Silver with a timing of 1 minute, 6.14 seconds. The other finalists in the event were from Germany, Switzerland, Finland, Estonia and Brazil.
Gamini Weerasinghe (extreme right) winning the bronze medal in the 400 Metres hurdles (over 55 years)
Gamini made history even before winning the Bronze medal, when he became the first Sri Lankan athlete to even enter a final at the World Masters Athletics Championships. In fact, he qualified and ran in the finals of not just one but two events, the other being the 100 Metres Hurdles, in which he finished sixth with a timing of 17.47 seconds.
Athletes from 90 countries battled it out at the 18th World Masters Athletics Championships in Lahti, Finland, from 28th July – 8th August 2009. Hosts Finland won the overall championship with a final tally of 319 medals, followed by Germany with 284 and the United States with 147.
Gamini, fresh from his return to the island, said: “It was an indescribable moment for me to see Sri Lanka’s name up on the medals tally. I’ve been to the Games before, and there has been a feeling of emptiness to return without Sri Lanka winning or even reaching the finals in even one event.”
“When I qualified for the final, it was an extraordinary feeling, and I set my sights on winning a medal. I knew that the American athlete Thaddeus Wilson was the favourite, and I tried my level best to beat him. But Stevenson of the UK sprang a surprise on everyone by taking the Gold.”
Gamini has for decades been among Asia’s finest Masters Athletes. At the Asian Games Masters he has won Gold or Silver in three events - 110 metre hurdles, 400 metre hurdles, and high jump – no less than seven consecutive times, and has an amazing tally of 13 Golds and 7 Silvers.
Ajith Fernando, Chairman of the SriLankan Airlines Sports Council, said: “Gamini is an extraordinary sportsman who has brought glory to our country. All of his colleagues at SriLankan Airlines salute his victory. His is a story of extraordinary talent, dedication and sheer hard work. He has participated in the World Masters Games several times before, and narrowly missed the final, so he went back vowing to get to the final this time. He has surpassed all expectations by bringing home a medal.”
A total of four athletes from Sri Lanka participated at the Games. Competitors are divided into age groups beginning with Over 35 Years. The events range from the 100 metres sprint to the marathon and the gruelling decathlon.
Gamini is the long-time Athletics Co-ordinator at SriLankan Airlines, and is still a member of the National Carrier’s Soccer and Basketball teams at his age, competing with those who are thirty years junior to him!
He is also a Level I Certified Coach of the International Amateur Athletics Federation, and coaches the SriLankan Airlines athletics team.
“I’d like to thank all those who have supported me over the years, especially the SriLankan Airlines Sports Council,” said Gamini.
Gamini spent five years as a Seaman in the Sri Lanka Navy, before joining SriLankan Airlines in 1981. A native of Katunayake, he studied at St. Mary’s College in Negombo.
He has three sons and a daughter. His three sons have taken after their father and all won scholarships to study at St. Joseph’s College, Colombo and the daughter attends St. Paul’s Milagiriya.
All sons were awarded school colours for soccer.
SOURCE: http://www.lankatimes.com/fullstory.php?id=21222
