Elisha Gomes - The ballerina in water!

Fondly known as Eli, the 21 year old enjoys aquatic sports and has represented Sri Lanka on an international level at Commonwealth Games as well as Asian Games.  She has been moulded by sports into been a vibrant character who is both down to earth and dedicated. Here she is, talking about her experiences as sportswoman to Life Online.

Eli, tell us a little about yourself and family, where did it all start for you?

I’m currently a third year undergraduate studying International Management in the University of Manchester.

Sports have been a big part of my life, having competed in three different sports; Synchronized Swimming, Water Polo and Diving I have been able to cherish extremely memorable memories. I was selected for the Synchronized Swimming national team at age 12, which made me the youngest to represent Sri Lanka in Aquatics at an international level.  I was part of the team for 6 years and went onto captain the Sri Lankan Synchronized Swimming team at the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

My family has always been involved in sports, My sister Shahili was also part of the national Synchronized Swimming team where our team ranked 7th at the 2006 Asian Games. She was not only a pillar of strength but a shoulder to lean on. Having her beside me was a memorable experience.

How were you driven towards sports? Any particular person who was influential?

My parents and my sister have always encouraged me to try different sports. I was initially keen on badminton but it wasn’t long before I realized that aquatics was my true calling. From a young age my dad made me realize that competing in sports was a lot more than victory or defeat. I didn’t appreciate these lessons until I was much older.

I have been part of teams that have won National Championships and I have also been on the losing end. Sports build character. It helps to develop inner strength, self-discipline and teaches you to stay humble. As much as I have savored my victories, there are many life lessons I have learnt through my defeats.

At what age did you realize you wanted pursue swimming, diving and water polo?

I learnt how to swim when I was about 6 years old but it was only at a much older age that I started Water Polo. I experimented with a few sports when I was young, until I realized that I truly enjoyed being in water and this may have been the reason for me to pursue all aquatic sports.

How did you first get involved in synchronized swimming?

My first school Visakha Vidyalaya had one of the best Synchronized Swimming teams in the country. This led us to organize synchronized swimming concerts. I went to watch one of the concerts “Beauty and the Beast” which my sister was taking part in and I soon realized this was a sport that I’d like to try!

This sport is a hybrid form of swimming, dance and gymnastics, consisting of swimmers performing in water accompanied by music. I enjoyed dancing and swimming and this seemed a perfect combination of the two.

What was it like to be selected to take part at the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games?

I felt very proud, yet humbled to be selected to have represented Sri Lanka at the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games. Representing your motherland is the pinnacle for any sportsperson. This was a moment I had always dreamt about. Seeing the Sri Lankan flag represented at the stadium made me feel proud and made all those relentless hours of training seem very much worth it. It’s a memory that I will always cherish.

How hard did you train upon your selection? What kept you motivated?

We trained a minimum of five hours a day for both the Commonwealth and Asian Games. This required a lot of personal sacrifice and commitment. Physically I was at my peak during this year, but as the competition drew nearer, training hours became long and far more intensive. Whilst my love for the sport kept me going through those grueling hours, it was the thought of representing my country that helped me push beyond my potential.

Having competed at the 2006 Games it may have contributed significantly because I was already exposed to world - class athletes and I knew what it takes to meet a certain standard. More importantly I realized over time, that any athlete needs to be equally mentally and physically strong. This would be the only way you can not only motivate yourself but also your team members.

What did you feel during the performance? Any incidents you'd like to reminisce?

Although I had a couple of years of experience, I was still nervous. To some extent this is a good thing because it keeps you focused.
At international level, the pressure is always high as countless hours of training boils down to a four -minute performance. It is an intimidating prospect to perform in front of 10,000 spectators. , competing with world class athletes.

It’s a combination of a lot of feelings that you experience on this day, excitement, nervousness and anxiousness because you know that you only get one opportunity to prove that you are one of the best.

Who supported you throughout the good and tough times?

Training to compete at international level can be tough, especially for a young person. It requires commitment and much personal sacrifice.  Juggling academic and social life with an international sporting career is not easy and it took time to develop that right balance. Apart from my parents my sister played a big role in supporting me through the hard times, as she had previously competed in the national team, she was someone I could easily relate to. Very supportive friends who were positive, understanding and motivating, always surrounded me. They made it easier to balance both my sporting and academic tenure.

Lastly my duet partner Dehara, who was much more than just my training partner, she had become a sister and I was able to share all my thoughts every step of the way. Through the 5A.M Sunday practice she was able to keep me motivated and supported me throughout some of the hardest times.

Coming to a question more personal, what is your ultimate professional goal in life?

I'm hoping to run my own company one day and I would see this as my next life goal.

Finally, what piece of advice would you give to striving sportsmen and women to reach higher on a global standard emerging from a country like SL?

I don’t see failure as an obstacle but as a path to success. It should be taken as a factor that motivates you, drive you to be the best you can be. Pursue something your passionate about. If you manage to do this, then dedication, commitment and perseverance all follows through naturally. You put in the hard work and the reward will not only be through victories but that through an overwhelming sense of personal satisfaction of pursuing and reaching your dreams.

Sports will always test your capacity to adapt before advancing you. It will push you to your limits on physical and mental strength. Stay strong and don’t give in, perseverance eventually prevails. If you are doing all you can and the road it still rough, keep going, because you are going the right way.