Thivanka’s record breaking spree continues

Bags South Asian record with third best performance of the world

by Reemus Fernando

Former Maris Stella College, Negombo high jumper Ushan Thivanka produced yet another record breaking feat in his bid to edge closer to Tokyo Olympic qualifying standards and immediately dedicated the victory in Texas to his polio victim mother on Sunday.

The Texas A & M Commerce University scholarship holder cleared 2.30 metres, the top third height cleared in the world this year to win the high jump event held at a championship in Texas. In clearing the height he also broke the South Asian regional record held by India’s Tejaswin Shankar who cleared 2.29 metres in 2018.

Thivanka is in a record breaking spree this year having started with Sri Lanka National Indoor record and then breaking the 16-year old outdoor National Record held by Manjula Kumara. On Saturday (USA time), Thivanka was the sole competitor in his winning height and he made it in his third attempt to further improve his Sri Lanka record.

“I am extremely happy to have achieved this feat. I dedicate this victory to my mother. It is my Mother’s Day gift. She has done a lot for me. I have arranged a friend of mine to send a surprise to her though it is not the Mother’s Day here yet,” Thivanka said in a telephone interview with The Island before embarking on a long journey back to his University.

“Our target was to achieve the direct Olympic qualifying standard. I concluded the event after clearing the 2.30 metres mark in consultation with the coach because there was a strong wind which made it difficult to hold my swinging- leg,” said Thivanka.

The World Athletics set a tough qualifying standard for the Tokyo Olympics raising the bar to 2.33 metres, a height which was once considered beyond the reach of South Asians. While 13 athletes will be selected from direct qualifying method, 19 others will be chosen according to ‘Road to Olympic’ ranking positions.

Though only two other high jumpers have cleared better heights in the world this year, Thivanka’s position in the ‘Road to Olympic’ rankings is below the positions of possible athletes’ quota places yet. Analysts were optimistic that he would improve the rankings within the next two months.

“We are not in a hurry as my coach Rock Light is very much optimistic that I could reach the qualifying standard before the cut-off date,” said Thivanka.

Thivanka said that he was fortunate to be trained by Rock Light and also thanked all those who helped him reach where he is today including his former coach Suranjith Fernando.

Olympian and Asia Games medallist Nagalingam Ethirweerasingham who has followed Thivanka’s progress in the USA closely was the first to predict that the champion athlete would break Manjula Kumara’s record before June this year and strive for an Olympic berth.