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
WORDS: Tina Edward Gunawardhana
How did you get in to diving?
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.
