Jayden breaks a decade-old backstroke record with outstanding performance

Image sources: ePRESS.lk

Young swimmer, Jayden de Silva from Stafford International School breaks a 10-year-old Boys’ Under-16 100m backstroke meet record at the Sugathadasa Swimming Pool Complex during the 30th Inter-International Schools Swimming Championship 2025 held in Colombo.

His remarkable time of 1:04.25s  backstroke not only earned him the gold medal but also rewrote history, surpassing the previous record of 1:05.84s by Vihanga Perera of Gateway College set in Colombo, 2015.

Jayden, who has been steadily rising through the ranks of competitive swimming, stunned spectators and officials with his flawless techniques and explosive speed. The event, attended by top-tier swimmers from across the country, saw Jayden dominate from the start, maintaining a powerful lead throughout the race.

The competition was marked by other stunning performances as well. Jayden’s schoolmate, Shaqib Riyaj also scored gold in the Boys’ Under-20 50m Breaststroke with a new 30.87s meet record, again breaking last year’s 31.36s mark by Vinul Senanayake of Wycherley International School, Colombo.

Hashel Senarath of Gateway College also grabbed the spotlight by setting two new meet records in the Boys’ Under-14 division. He began by winning the 200-meter individual medley with a time of 2:30.88, toppling a record that had stood for seven years. He followed up with another stellar performance in the 50-meter butterfly, clinching gold in 28.38 seconds and breaking a nine-year-old benchmark.

With victories like this marking a significant milestone in these young athletes’ lives, the future of Sri Lanka promises to look brighter than ever. Their achievements not only inspire a new generation of athletes but also pave the path for a new chapter in the nation’s sport legacy.

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