Matthew Abeysinghe

Matthew Abeysinghe (born 19 March 1996) is a Sri Lankan swimmer who has represented his country at numerous international competitions. Abeysinghe trained under his coach and father, Manoj Abeysinghe, with Killer Whale Aquatics, until his departure for higher education, where he resumed his training at The Ohio State University in the USA. Abeysinghe is regarded as the greatest swimmer and one of the most accomplished athletes Sri Lanka has ever produced.

Matthew Abeysinghe
Abeysinghe at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia
Personal information
Full nameMatthew Duncan Abeysinghe
Nickname(s)Matt, Goldenboy
National team Sri Lanka
Born (1996-03-19) 19 March 1996
Hazleton, Pennsylvania, USA
Height180 cm (5 ft 11 in)
Weight85 kg (187 lb)
Sport
SportSwimming
StrokesFreestyle, Butterfly, Individual Medley
ClubKiller Whale Aquatics - Sri Lanka
College teamOhio State University
CoachManoj Abeysinghe
Medal record
Men's swimming
Representing  Sri Lanka
7th Asian Age Group Championships 2011
2011 Jakarta100 m freestyle
Asian Youth Games 2013
2013 Nanjing100 m freestyle
2016 South Asian Games
2016 Guwahati50 m freestyle
2016 Guwahati4×100 m freestyle
2016 Guwahati100 m freestyle
2016 Guwahati200 m freestyle
2016 Guwahati100 m butterfly
2016 Guwahati400 m medley
2016 Guwahati200 m medley
2016 Guwahati4×200 m freestyle
2016 Guwahati4×100 m medley
2016 Guwahati50 m backstroke
2019 South Asian Games
2019 Kathmandu50 m freestyle
2019 Kathmandu4×100 m freestyle
2019 Kathmandu200 m freestyle
2019 Kathmandu100 m butterfly
2019 Kathmandu50 m Butterfly
2019 Kathmandu100 m freestyle
2019 Kathmandu200 m Medley
2019 Kathmandu4×200 m freestyle

Career

Abeysinghe started swimming when he was 3 years old alongside his elder brother, Andrew. He has been quoted, saying he started swimming merely for water safety, not to compete. Over the course of his career, Abeysinghe has achieved numerous accolades, including; international medals, national records, national championships, and several national awards. Abeysinghe is considered the greatest athlete in South Asian Games history. He is also the most decorated; winning a total of 14 gold medals, 2 silver medals, and 1 bronze medal. In Freestyle, his most proficient stroke, Abeysinghe holds all of the national records except for the 200m Freestyle, which belongs to his younger brother, Kyle. He also holds the South Asian record in the 100m and 200m Freestyle events.

Abeysinghe with all of his South Asian Games medals

Abeysinghe’s first time representing Sri Lanka was at 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India. There he broke the national record in the 400m Freestyle, previously held by Julian Bolling and became the youngest male swimmer to be selected to the national team. Later on that year, he competed at the 2010 FINA World Swimming Championships in Dubai. In 2011, Abeysinghe represented Sri Lanka three times; at the 2011 World Aquatics Championships, the 2011 Youth Commonwealth Games, in the Isle of Man, making it to the finals of the 400m Freestyle, and Asian Age Group Swimming Championships, where he won the silver medal in 100m Freestyle. In 2012 Abeysinghe competed at the 2012 FINA World Swimming Championships in Istanbul, Turkey. The next year, Abeysinghe competed at the 2013 Asian Youth Games, where he won the bronze medal in the 100m Freestyle, becoming the first Sri Lankan to win a medal at an Asian Games event.

Abeysinghe at the 2013 Youth Asian Games

In 2014, at the 2014 Summer Youth Olympics, Abeysinghe competed in the 100m Freestyle. After setting a national record in prelims, he advanced to the Semi-Final, where he raced amongst the likes of future Olympians; Duncan Scott and Kyle Chalmers.

Abeysinghe competing at the 2014 Youth Olympic Games

Later on, he represented Sri Lanka at the 2014 FINA World Swimming Championships in Doha, Qatar. He also competed in the 2014 Asian Indoor Athletics Championships in Seoul, Korea. In 2015, Abeysinghe competed at the 2015 FINA World Championships in Kazan, Russia. Early on in 2016, Abeysinghe was struggling to reach the Olympic qualifying time in the 100m freestyle. Finally, in Hong Kong, Abeysinghe was able to achieve the “B” qualifying time, becoming the first and only Sri Lankan swimmer, and one of few athletes, to achieve this feat up to that point (his younger brother Kyle, managed to surpass this mark later on). Abeysinghe competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, alongside fellow swimming star, Kimiko Raheem. He competed in the 100m Freestyle, with a time of 50.96, slower than he had previously swum in Hong Kong. He placed third in his heat.

Abeysinghe competing in the 2016 Olympic Games

In early 2017, Abeysinghe moved to the US to attend The Ohio State University. There he resumed training, after a prolonged leg injury in late 2016.

At the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia, Abeysinghe was apart of the 4x100 Freestyle relay for Sri Lanka. Alongside him was his younger brother Kyle, Akalanka Pieris and Cherantha De Silva. Together, they became the first Sri Lankan team to make finals at the Commonwealth Games. Unfortunately, due to an early start by De Silva, they were disqualified. At the Games, he also competed in the 50m and 100m Freestyle, qualifying for the semi-final in the latter. There he competed against the likes of Cameron McEvoy, Chad Le Clos, and Benjamin Proud. He also became the first Sri Lankan to break the “50 second” barrier.

Abeysinghe at the 2018 Commonwealth Games

Later on that year, he competed at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia. Again, he was apart of the 4x100m Freestyle relay team alongside his brother Kyle, Akalanka Pieris and Cherantha De Silva. He also competed in the 50m and 100m Freestyle events, qualifying for the Semifinal in both. A serious medal contender in the 100m Freestyle, Abeysinghe was unable to stand atop the podium, placing 5th.


2016 South Asian Games

With 7 gold medals 2 silver and 1 bronze (10 medals at 11 events) in 2016 South Asian Games, Abeysinghe broke the record for most gold medals in South Asian Games by a Sri Lankan, previously set by Julian Bolling back in 1991 South Asian Games.[1][2][3]

2016 Summer Olympics

Abeysinghe is the 1st swimmer ever qualify under the Olympic Standard(B) to represent Sri Lanka in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games from 5 to 22 August.[4]

2018 Commonwealth Games

In February 2018, Abeysinghe was named to Sri Lanka's 2018 Commonwealth Games team. In the 50 and 100 meter Freestyle events he reached the semi-final recording a top 20 time in the world for the 100m freestyle. He was placed 10th and 14th respectively. Along with his teammates he reached the finals in the 4 × 100 m freestyle relay, placing 8th in prelims and recording a time of 3:22.84, shattering the National and SAF record.[5][6]

2019 South Asian Games

Matthew continued his glory at the South Asian platform winning 7 gold and silver in the 2019 South Asian Games held in Kathmandu Nepal.[7]

Personal life

Matthew Abeysinghe is from Colombo, Sri Lanka. He was a student of Asian International School Colombo, subsequently moving to the US for higher education and training at The Ohio State University. For a majority of his career he was coached by his father Manoj Abeysinghe, at the Killer Whale Aquatic Club, the winningest club in Sri Lanka. [8] His family is well known for their swimming prowess in the sporting community of Sri Lanka. He has four brothers, one elder and two younger, all of whom are swimmers. His elder brother, Andrew Abeysinghe, is a former national champion, national record holder, and multiple South Asian Games gold medalist. Dillon Abeysinghe, his younger brother, is a former national champion, national record holder, and South Asian Aquatic Championship medalist. His youngest brother, Kyle Abeysinghe, is a two-time silver medalist at the Youth Commonwealth Games, one of few Sri Lankan athletes, and only swimmer, to ever achieve such a feat. At the South Asian Games level he is a gold medalist and South Asian Games record holder. At the domestic level he is also a national record holder and national champion. Their father, Manoj Abeysinghe, is considered one of the greatest coaches in Sri Lankan swimming, producing numerous international medalists, national record holders, and national champions. Since its inception in 2010, under Manoj Abeysinghe’s guidance, Killer Whale Aquatics has produced the most members of the Sri Lankan national team and won the most national championships, for both men and women. Together, Abeysinghe and his three brothers hold a national record in the 4x50 Medley Relay.

National and International Awards

Achievements

SAF records
Event Time NameClubDateMeetLocation Ref
50m Freestyle 23.33 SAGMatthew Abeysinghe  Sri Lanka 7 February 20162016 South Asian Games Guwahati, India [11]
100m Freestyle 51.23 SAGMatthew Abeysinghe  Sri Lanka 8 February 20162016 South Asian Games Guwahati, India [12]
200m Freestyle 1:52.28 SAGMatthew Abeysinghe  Sri Lanka 6 February 20162016 South Asian Games Guwahati, India [13]
100m Butterfly 55.42 SAGMatthew Abeysinghe  Sri Lanka 6 February 20162016 South Asian Games Guwahati, India [11]
200m Individual Medley 2:09.63 SAGMatthew Abeysinghe  Sri Lanka 9 February 20162016 South Asian Games Guwahati, India [11]

Sri Lanka Long Course national records
Event Time NameClubDateMeetLocation Ref
50m Freestyle 22.65 NATMatthew Abeysinghe  Sri Lanka 7 April 20182018 Commonwealth Games Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia [11]
100m Freestyle 49.11 NAT, OLY AMatthew Abeysinghe  Sri Lanka 7 April 2018Commonwealth Games 2018 Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia [12]
200m Freestyle 1:52.14 NATMatthew Abeysinghe  Sri Lanka 3 July 2016Hong Kong National Age Group Swimming Championships Hong Kong, China [12]
400m Freestyle 4:03.90 NATMatthew Abeysinghe Killer Whale Aquatics 25 September 2014National Aquatic Championships Colombo, Sri Lanka [12]
1500m Freestyle 16:23.61 NATMatthew Abeysinghe Killer Whale Aquatics 14 July 2012National Age Group Swimming Championships Colombo, Sri Lanka [11]
100m Butterfly 54.33 NATMatthew Abeysinghe  Sri Lanka 3 July 2016Hong Kong National Age Group Swimming Championships Hong Kong, China [11]
200m Individual Medley 2:07.33 NATMatthew Abeysinghe  Sri Lanka {{{date}}}
400m Individual Medley 4:40.47 NATMatthew Abeysinghe  Sri Lanka 3 July 20162016 South Asian Games Guwahati, India [11]

See also

References
  1. "Matthew Abeysinghe breaks Julian Bolling's record for most gold at SAG". News first. 10 February 2016. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  2. "Matthew Abeysinghe breaks Julian's Sri Lanka record". Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  3. "Matthew Abeysinghe Breaks Julian Bolling's 25-Year-old Record". Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  4. "Seven confirm places for Rio Games". Retrieved 19 January 2017.
  5. "Swimming: Two women and four men to represent Sri Lanka at CWG 2018". The Sunday Times. Colombo, Sri Lanka. 19 February 2018. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  6. Ranasinghe, Dinushki (1 March 2018). "Know your swimmers for Commonwealth Games 2018". www.thepapare.com. Dialog Axiata. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  7. http://www.dailynews.lk/2019/12/10/sports/205282/abeysinghe-dominates-swimming-seven-golds
  8. "Sri Lanka Sports News - Online edition of Daily News - Lakehouse Newspapers". Retrieved 19 January 2017.
  9. http://www.adaderana.lk/news/37094/ada-derana-sri-lankan-of-the-year-2016-award-winners
  10. http://www.sundaytimes.lk/170521/sports/mathew-abeysinghe-bags-the-presidential-sports-award-240719.html
  11. Sajeewa Jaykody (30 May 2015). "Matthew sets new 100m Butterfly national record". dailynews.lk. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  12. "All the doubting motivated me". The Nation (Sri Lanka). 23 July 2016. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
  13. "2016 South Asian Games Results". 11 February 2016. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
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