Story of the Olympian
Chinthaka de Zoysa, born on December 18, 1971, in Kosgoda, Balapitiya, Sri Lanka, is a prominent sprinter who represented the nation in several international athletic competitions, including the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. His early education was at Hegalla MV, followed by secondary schooling at Sri Devananda MV, Ambalangoda. Chinthaka displayed immense talent from a young age, winning the 100m, 200m, and long jump events at Zonal and District level meets in the Under-11 category.
He made his mark at the national level in 1992 by winning the 100m event at the National Sports Festival. He continued to shine in the subsequent years, winning the national title in the 100m event in 1993, 1995, and 1996. He broke the previous record held by Sriyantha Dissanayake in 1994 with a time of 10.54 seconds, which he later improved to 10.33 seconds in 1995. His best timing of 10.29 seconds in 1999 remained a national record for 17 years.
Chinthaka’s international career includes participation in the 1993 Manila and 1995 Jakarta Asian Championships. He also won a gold medal in the 4x100m relay and a bronze medal in the 100m event at the 1993 SAF Games in Dhaka. He further strengthened his legacy by helping the Sri Lankan relay team win gold in the 1995 SAF Games in Madras.
Despite not securing a medal at the Asian Games and other international championships, Chinthaka competed in three World Athletic Championships (1995, 1997, and 1999) and proudly represented Sri Lanka at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games. His career was cut short due to a hamstring injury in 2002. After retiring, he transitioned into a coaching role, continuing to contribute to the development of Sri Lankan athletics.
