After 25 years, Sri Lanka made a historic comeback on the world diving platform as two young divers, Mikhail Jayaweera from Colombo International School and Vinudi Kankanamge from Visakha Vidyalaya, emerged as South Asia’s top divers at the World Aquatic Junior Diving Championship in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, last Sunday.
Vinudi Kankanamge stamped her name in history as Sri Lanka’s first-ever female diver to reach such an elite level in the eight-day world event, which featured only 250 qualified athletes from 40 countries. Her performance in the 3m springboard and platform events in Group B earned international recognition, while her teammate Mikhail Jayaweera impressed in the platform event.
The last time Sri Lanka was represented at this championship was in 1999, when Chanaka Wickramasinghe of Royal College and Gayan Ranatunga of S. Thomas’ College competed in the Czech Republic. Remarkably, Chanaka Wickramasinghe, now a seasoned coach, mentored both Mikhail and Vinudi, passing on his experience and expertise during the meet.
Despite competing against divers from nations equipped with advanced facilities, the Sri Lankan duo excelled without access to crucial diving infrastructure such as dryland training rooms and trampolines in Sri Lanka.
These essential training tools allow athletes to practice complex aerial maneuvers safely before performing them in the water—resources Sri Lanka still lacks.
Experts note that many athletes who compete at the World Aquatic Junior Diving Championship go on to win Olympic medals. That makes the achievements of Mikhail and Vinudi even more significant, considering their limited training environment.
Diving experts urge Sri Lankan sports authorities to establish modern training facilities, including dryland training rooms and trampolines, to help aspiring young divers reach their full potential. With such investments, Sri Lanka could produce future Olympic hopefuls and secure a lasting presence in the world diving pool.
SAJEEWA JAYAKODY
