# Akalanka Peiris

Dimuth Akalanka Peiris also known as Akalanka Peiris (born 11 January 2000) is a Sri Lankan swimmer and a national record holder in swimming. Known for his outstanding international performances, he is a Youth Olympian., and a Commonwealth Games finalist. He has represented Sri Lanka at the Asian Games and World Aquatics Championships.

## Education

Akalanka Peiris attended St. Peter’s College Colombo, Sri Lanka, where he won the Peterite gold, the highest award that a Peterite can achieve during his school career.
He completed his Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA) Diploma in Management Accounting and is currently studying a Bachelor's degree in Business Analytics in Australia.
He is currently training at the Cheltenham Swimming Club under coach Kelly Stubbins.

## Swimming Career

Akalanka Peiris is one of Sri Lanka's most accomplished swimmers, with an impressive list of achievements at national and international competitions. His career began on the world stage at the 2015 Junior World Championships in Singapore, where he earned a top 50 ranking. Over the years, he has set multiple Sri Lankan national records and represented his country in prestigious events, including the Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, and World Aquatic Championships.
Notably, he won seven medals at the 2019 South Asian Games in Nepal, where he set national records in the backstroke and butterfly events, establishing himself as a top competitor in South Asia. At the 2024 World Aquatics Championships in Doha, Qatar, he broke the 26-second barrier in the 50m backstroke, achieving a global ranking of 22nd, 3rd in Asia, and 1st in South Asia—a milestone for Sri Lankan swimming.
Throughout his career, Peiris has consistently set and broken national records, both in long course (50m) and short course (25m) events. His record-setting achievements include Sri Lanka’s fastest times in the 50m backstroke, 100m backstroke, and 50m butterfly events, with standout performances at international games. In the 2024 season, he also became a top swimmer in the Australian circuit, ranking in the top 6 for the 50m backstroke at the Australian Nationals and winning first place in the Victorian State Sprints Championships.
Peiris has held six national records, been crowned the Sri Lankan National Champion multiple times, and earned the title of National Age Group Champion across several years. With over 700 medals and 82 national age group records, Peiris continues to be a dominant and inspiring figure in Sri Lanka sports.

## International Competitions
### 2015 Junior World Championships

Peiris competed at the Junior World Championships held in Singapore, where he achieved a top 50 world ranking, marking his entry into international swimming competitions and setting the stage for his future achievements.

### 2015 Asian Age Group Swimming Championships

Peiris represented Sri Lanka at the Asian Age Group Championships in Thailand, achieving a 7th-place finish in the 50m backstroke and 8th place in the 100m backstroke, securing top rankings in Asia and highlighting his competitive presence in the region.

### 2016 Asian School Games

Peiris competed in the Asian Schools Games in Indonesia, where he won silver medals in both the 50m butterfly and 50m backstroke events, showcasing his skill and earning recognition on the school-level international stage.

### 2016 International Sports Games (Mini Olympics)

Peiris competed at the International Sports Games, also known as the Mini Olympics, held in Russia, where he achieved a world rank of 1st in the 100m backstroke, marking a significant milestone in his swimming career on the global stage.

### 2017 Youth Commonwealth Games

Peiris represented Sri Lanka at the Youth Commonwealth Games in the Bahamas, where he placed in the top 5 for the 50m butterfly 50m backstroke events.

### 2018 Commonwealth Games

Peiris competed at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia, where he reached the finals in the 4×100m freestyle relay alongside teammates Matthew Abeysinghe, Kyle Abeysinghe, and Cherantha De Silva. He also advanced to the semi-finals in the 50m backstroke, delivering a strong performance on one of sport’s largest stages.

### 2018 Asian Games

Peiris qualified to represent Sri Lanka at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia, an opportunity that coincided with his Advanced Level (A/L) exams. With special permission from the Ministry of Education, he became the first Sri Lankan to take his A/L exams overseas, sitting for his papers at the Sri Lankan embassy in Jakarta. Although his exams prevented him from attending the opening ceremony, Peiris competed with determination, balancing both academic and athletic pursuits. At the Games, Peiris reached the finals in the 4×100m freestyle relay alongside teammates Matthew Abeysinghe, Kyle Abeysinghe, and Cherantha De Silva, while also securing a 16th-place ranking in Asia for the 50m backstroke, highlighting his strong competitive presence in the event.

### 2018 Summer Youth Olympics

After Kyle Abeysinghe pulled out of the 2018 Youth Olympic Games, Peiris represented Sri Lanka at the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics, in Buenos Aires, Argentina further establishing himself as a key figure in Sri Lankan swimming on an international stage.

### 2019 South Asian Games

At the 2019 South Asian Games in Kathmandu, Nepal, Peiris won seven medals, including a gold in the 4×100m freestyle relay alongside teammates Matthew Abeysinghe, Kyle Abeysinghe, and Kavindra Nugawela. He also earned bronze in the 50m freestyle and 50m butterfly, as well as silver in the 50m, 100m, and 200m backstroke events, setting national records in each backstroke event and the 50m butterfly—marking a significant milestone in his career.

### 2019 World Aquatic Championships

In 2019, Peiris represented Sri Lanka at the World Aquatics Championships in Gwangju, South Korea, as the only male swimmer on the team, solidifying his position as a leading Sri Lankan athlete.

### 2019 Singapore Nationals

Peiris competed at the Singapore Nationals, held in Singapore where he won a silver medal in the 50m backstroke and a bronze medal in the 100m backstroke, further adding to his international accolades and demonstrating his competitive prowess.

### 2021 FINA World  Swimming Championships

Peiris competed at the 2021 World Championships in Abu Dhabi, UAE, achieving a world ranking of 37th in the 50m backstroke and 41st in the 100m backstroke, underscoring his position among the top swimmers globally in these events.

### 2022 Commonwealth Games

At the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, Peiris continued his record-breaking performances, setting a new national record in the 50m backstroke and achieving a seasonal best in the 50m butterfly, highlighting his steady progress.

### 2023 Asian Games

Peiris competed in the Asian Games, Hangzhou, China, where he placed 10th in Asia in the 50m backstroke (short course), showcasing his competitive standing in the region.

### 2023 Australian Swimming Championships

At the Australian Swimming Nationals in Sydney, Australia, Peiris secured a 10th-place finish in the 50m backstroke (long course), ranking him among Australia’s top backstroke swimmers.

### 2024 World Aquatic Championships

In 2024, Peiris competed at the World Aquatics Championships in Doha, Qatar, where he broke the 26-second barrier in the 50m backstroke, setting a new national record and achieving a remarkable ranking of 22nd globally, 3rd in Asia, and 1st in South Asia in this event.

### 2024 Victorian State Sprints Swimming Championship

At the Victorian State Sprints Championships held in Melbourne, Australia, Peiris claimed 1st place in both the 50m and 100m backstroke events, becoming the top swimmer in the state of Victoria, Australia. He also set new Sri Lankan national records in both events, further solidifying his record-breaking trajectory.

### 2024 Australian National Short Course Swimming Championship

At the 2024 Australian Nationals in Adelaide, Australia, Peiris achieved two more national records in the 50m and 100m backstroke events, ranking among Australia’s top backstroke swimmers. He also set personal bests in the 100m freestyle and 50m freestyle, underlining his progress and versatility.

## Local Competitions

* Sri Lanka National Champion – 2019/2022
* National Age Group Champion – 2009/2011/2013/2014/2015/2017/2018
* Broke 82 Sri Lankan National Age Group Records
* He won 700+ International and National Medals
Sri Lankan National Records :
| Event | Event | National Record Time (s) | Date | Meet | Location |
| Long Course (50m) | 50m Backstroke | 25:86 | 17 Feb 2024 | World Championships | Doha, Qatar |
| Long Course (50m) | 100m Backstroke | 56:99 | 11 Sep 2017 | Asian Age Group Championships | Tashkent, Uzbekistan |
| Long Course (50m) | 50m Butterfly | 24:86 | 29 July 2022 | Commonwealth Games | Birmingham, United Kingdom |
| Long Course (50m) | 4x100m Freestyle Relay | 3:22:84 | 6 April 2018 | Commonwealth Games | Gold Coast, Australia |
| Short Course (25m) | 50m Backstroke | 24:52 | 28 Sep 2024 | Australian Nationals | Adeleide, Australia |
| Short Course (25m) | 100m Backstroke | 53:47 | 27 Sep 2024 | Australian Nationals | Adeleide, Australia |
| Short Course (25m) | 200m Backstroke | 2:01:55 | 6 Dec 2019 | South Asian Games | Kathmandu, Nepal |
| Short Course (25m) | 4x100m Freestyle Relay | 3:19:07 | 5 Dec 2019 | South Asian Games | Kathmandu, Nepal |