Matthew Abeysinghe

Matthew Abeysinghe (born March 19, 1996) is a Sri Lankan medal winning swimmer who is the most decorated athlete in the history of South Asian Games. In two editions of SAG (12th SAG in 2016 & 13th SAG 2019) he has won 18 medals, including 14 gold, 3 silver and 1 bronze. In addition, he has won the highest number of gold medals at a single edition of SAG twice in a row in 2016 and 2019. He is also the only Sri Lankan swimmer to have achieved an Olympic standard (Olympic B standard in the 100 Freestyle for the 2016 Rio Games) and the first to achieve a FINA World Championships qualifying standard in the same event for the Kazan edition in 2015. He has represented his country at numerous international competitions. He is the current Sri Lankan national record holder in the 50m freestyle (22.28), 100m freestyle (49.11), 200m freestyle (1:50.97 ), 400m freestyle (4:03.90), 1500 freestyle (16:23.61), 200 individual medley (2:07.33), 400 individual medley (4:40.47) and 100m butterfly (54.71). He also hold all the freestyle sc national records and many other as well. He was the leading gold medalist at the 12th South Asian Games for Sri Lanka in India.[1] He represented Sri Lanka in the Youth Olympics in 2014 and was ranked 13th overall in Boys' 100-metre freestyle and 15th in the Boys' 200-metre freestyle. [2]

Matthew Abeysinghe
Personal information
Full nameMatthew Duncan Abeysinghe
Nickname(s)Matt, Goldenboy
National team Sri Lanka
Born (1996-03-19) March 19, 1996
Hazleton, Pennsylvania, USA
Height181 cm (5 ft 11 in)
Weight75 kg (165 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

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.[3][4][5]

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 August 5 to 22.[6]

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.[7][8]

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. [9]

Personal life

Matthew Abeysinghe was a student of Asian International School Colombo, and is coached by his father Manoj Abeysinghe.[10] His brothers Andrew, Dillon and Kyle Abeysinghe all represented Sri Lanka and together they hold the Sri Lankan national record for the Men's 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 [13]
100m Freestyle 51.23 SAGMatthew Abeysinghe  Sri Lanka 8 February 20162016 South Asian Games Guwahati, India [14]
200m Freestyle 1:52.28 SAGMatthew Abeysinghe  Sri Lanka 6 February 20162016 South Asian Games Guwahati, India [15]
100m Butterfly 55.42 SAGMatthew Abeysinghe  Sri Lanka 6 February 20162016 South Asian Games Guwahati, India [13]
200m Individual Medley 2:09.63 SAGMatthew Abeysinghe  Sri Lanka 9 February 20162016 South Asian Games Guwahati, India [13]

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 [13]
100m Freestyle 49.11 NAT, OLY AMatthew Abeysinghe  Sri Lanka 7 April 2018Commonwealth Games 2018 Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia [14]
200m Freestyle 1:52.14 NATMatthew Abeysinghe  Sri Lanka 3 July 2016Hong Kong National Age Group Swimming Championships Hong Kong, China [14]
400m Freestyle 4:03.90 NATMatthew Abeysinghe Killer Whale Aquatics 25 September 2014National Aquatic Championships Colombo, Sri Lanka [14]
1500m Freestyle 16:23.61 NATMatthew Abeysinghe Killer Whale Aquatics 14 July 2012National Age Group Swimming Championships Colombo, Sri Lanka [13]
100m Butterfly 54.33 NATMatthew Abeysinghe  Sri Lanka 3 July 2016Hong Kong National Age Group Swimming Championships Hong Kong, China [13]
200m Individual Medley 2:07.33 NATMatthew Abeysinghe  Sri Lanka
400m Individual Medley 4:40.47 NATMatthew Abeysinghe  Sri Lanka 3 July 20162016 South Asian Games Guwahati, India [13]

See also

References
  1. "Sri Lanka wins first gold medal in South Asian Games 2016 - Sri Lanka News". 6 February 2016. Retrieved 19 January 2017.
  2. "Abeysinghe Becomes First Sri Lankan Swimmer Ever to Earn World Champs Time Standard". 8 June 2015. Retrieved 19 January 2017.
  3. "Matthew Abeysinghe breaks Julian Bolling's record for most gold at SAG". News first. 10 February 2016. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  4. "Matthew Abeysinghe breaks Julian's Sri Lanka record". Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  5. "Matthew Abeysinghe Breaks Julian Bolling's 25-Year-old Record". Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  6. "Seven confirm places for Rio Games". Retrieved 19 January 2017.
  7. "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.
  8. Ranasinghe, Dinushki (1 March 2018). "Know your swimmers for Commonwealth Games 2018". www.thepapare.com. Dialog Axiata. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  9. http://www.dailynews.lk/2019/12/10/sports/205282/abeysinghe-dominates-swimming-seven-golds
  10. "Sri Lanka Sports News - Online edition of Daily News - Lakehouse Newspapers". Retrieved 19 January 2017.
  11. http://www.adaderana.lk/news/37094/ada-derana-sri-lankan-of-the-year-2016-award-winners
  12. http://www.sundaytimes.lk/170521/sports/mathew-abeysinghe-bags-the-presidential-sports-award-240719.html
  13. Sajeewa Jaykody (30 May 2015). "Matthew sets new 100m Butterfly national record". dailynews.lk. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  14. "All the doubting motivated me". The Nation (Sri Lanka). 23 July 2016. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
  15. "2016 South Asian Games Results". 11 February 2016. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
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