When I was younger my mom used to take my sister for swimming and I used to just sit on the swimming pool gutter and watch her because I was terrified of water when I was small.
However, I was really interested in watching the big akkis and ayyas dive and I really wanted to try it. So my mom enrolled me for diving lessons.
I was still scared of water, so my coach stayed in the pool and used to catch me when I jumped off the diving board. This eventually allayed my fear of water and I fell in love with that sport and took to it like a proverbial duck to water!
Of all the sports, why diving?
There was no specific reason as such. I just really wanted to try it out as it seemed that the divers were flying through the air and it looked such a fun activity.
How old were you when you first started diving?
I was 9 years old when I started diving.
How old were you when you first started competing professionally?
I was only ten years old when I first started competing professionally.
What are the national records you have broken?
I hold the record of being the only diver to become the National Champion for 10 years. I was really humbled to have set up such a record and I consider that to be one of my greatest achievements.
What national records do you hold?
This story is from the Series 19 Volume 4 - 2021 edition of Hi Magazine.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the Series 19 Volume 4 - 2021 edition of Hi Magazine.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Kalukanda House A LABOUR OF LOVE
“Experience the creative and spiritual beauty in Sri Lanka through conscious travel with Kalukanda House” Dee Gibson, owner of Kalukanda House
BENDING IT LIKE BECKHAM
THE BRIT SRI LANKAN BANDARA BOYS ON PLAYING FOR WATFORD FC AND WHY FOOTBALL REMAINS THEIR OBSESSION
Making A Statement
KLÄDER CEYLON’S DESIGNER MARLIN CHRIS CREATES A BOLD COLLECTION FOR THE MAN WHO DARES TO BE DIFFERENT
The world's youngest couturier
Sri Lankan-Italian designer Andrea Brocca’s graduate collection had the world’s fashion press swooning over him. Awarded the title of the World’s Youngest Couturier by Guinness World Records, the prodigy who dressed Lady Gaga for the cover of Billboard magazine speaks exclusively to Features Editor, Tina Edward Gunawardhana on his meteoric rise in the fashion world
An advocate for diversity
TV AND FILM PRODUCER, HIP-HOP ARTISTE, TV TRAVEL SHOW HOST AND CHILDREN’S AUTHOR RUBY LOVELL USES HER OWN CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES OF DIFFICULTIES IN ASSIMILATING TO BECOME A STRONG ADVOCATE FOR DIVERSITY IN CHILDREN’S LITERATURE WITH HER COLLECTION OF CHILDREN’S BOOKS PUBLISHED IN THE UK
Champion diver
YASHODA DE SILVA IS SRI LANKA’S UNDISPUTED DIVING CHAMPION. WITH HER EYES SET ON WINNING MORE MEDALS YASHODA REMAINS STEADFAST IN HER TRAINING REGIMENT IN AUSTRALIA
CREATING A vibe FOR THE fashion tribe
KARMA COLLECTION FOUNDERS SEEMA MOCERI AND TIVON PRASAD REVEAL THEIR FASHION PLANS
The Priestly ARTIST
LTP MANJUSRI A DOYEN OF SRI LANKAN ART
The Lady sings the blues
HAVING SUNG FOR THE QUEEN AT THE MILLENNIUM COUNTDOWN IN LONDON, AND PERFORMED WITH THE LIKES OF SIR VAN MORRISON, JAMIE CULLUM AND BURT BACHARACH, DOCTOR TURNED MUSICIAN SUMUDU JAYATILAKA HAS JUST RELEASED HER NEW ALBUM ‘FOR ALL WE KNOW’
World Traveller
AWARD WINNING MUSICIAN AND COMPOSER NITIN SAWHNEY COMBINES ASIAN AND OTHER WORLDWIDE INFLUENCES WITH ELEMENTS OF JAZZ AND ELECTRONIC TO CREATE SUBLIMINAL MUSIC. HE HAS JUST CONCLUDED ‘JOURNEYS’, A CONCERT AT THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL TO CELEBRATE 150 YEARS OF IMMIGRATION. SAWHNEY EXPLORES THEMES OF MULTICULTURALISM, POLITICS AND SPIRITUALITY THROUGH HIS MUSIC. HE HAS RELEASED HIS NEW ALBUM ‘IMMIGRANTS’.
