Reshika Udugampola is a familiar name in sports administration in Sri Lanka. She is a former Olympian in swimming and is currently attached to the Athletic Commission. Reshika has been honoured by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and has been nominated to the IOC’s South Asian Marketing Committee. The Youth Observer met her to discuss her new achievements.
Q: Reshika, you have been offered a new post in the International Olympic Committee. Can you please say something about it?
A: Yes, I am the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC’s) Marketing Sub-Committee’s nominee from the South Asian Region. It is a great opportunity for my country.
Q: It can be called a great opportunity for SL sports administration. What are your responsibilites in this subcommittee? 
A: They have not been clarified by the IOC yet.I But I think it may be to develop the marketing strategy of the IOC channel in the South Asian region. I cannot explain clearly what the responsibilities of this post are.
Q: How did you start swimming?
A: When I was eight years old I began swimming. At that time, we were in Galle and I went to Southlands Balika College. My sister was diagnosed with asthma and was advised by the doctors to start swimming. My parents followed that advice and I also joined in the swimming practises. That was the start of my swimming.
Q: How did you start competitive swimming?
A: After I started swimming my coaches decided that I had a talent for swimming. After that they encouraged me to swim. I also followed their guidance and day-by-day made progress.
Q: Who are your swimming coaches?
A: A reputed coach, the late Wilson, was my first coach. He had honed my talents to national level easily. After his death, I went to Manoj Abeysingha and he guided me to Olympic level. Before the Olympics, I went to Australia and had special training for a year.
Q: You participated in the 2011 Olympics. Then you were a student at Gateway College? Why did you change from Southlands College to Gateway International?
A: We are from Colombo. But my parents went to Galle for their work. So, I had to enter Southlands College at that time. After we came back to Colombo I joined Gateway College. Yes, I have participated in the Olympics in 2011. Before that, I postponed my studies for two years to concentrate on swimming.
Q: How did you enter the sports management field?
A: After the Olympics I was attached to the National Olympic Committee (NOC) Athletic commission. Today, I am member of this committee. I have participated in several projects at the Athletic Commission.
During that period the NOC nominated me as a member of the IOC Marketing Subcommittee. The IOC has considered that suggestion and they have selected me for that subcommittee in the South Asian region.
This is how I got involved with sports administration.
Q: How did you select this path? Did anyone advice you to choose this?
A: No, After the IOC regulation, the NOC called every Federation to nominate their representative for the Athlete Commission.
The Swimming Association nominated me as their representative for this Commission. The NOC considered it and I and a few other members of other federations were nominated to this Athletic Committee.
Q: What is the role of this Athletic Commission?
A: We are the representatives of the athlete. If they have any problem with their sports and or any other thing we have to discuss it with the Federation and the NOC from the athlete’s point of view. That is the main reason to establish this commission.
Q: Would you say this commission is like a legal committee for the athlete?
A: Yes. We are trying to protect the rights of the athletes. It is like a legal body.
Q: Can you explain what your committee has done for the athlete in the past? 
A: We have conducted a workshop against the sexual harassment in sports recently. The Olympic Committee, the Women’s Committee and the Athletic Council conducted this workshop. Then thirty athletes affected by the Covid-19 pandemic were given a grant of money donated by the IOC .
Currently, we have started a new spoken English course for athletes. This is the work we have done in the past couple of months.
Q: What is the term of office of your Sports Commission?
A: After three years we, have to hold an annual General meeting. Anyone liking to be in this committee can come forward at the AGM. An Olympian can enter the AGM directly and other athletes must be nominated by their Federations. But we are affiliated with the IOC and not under the control of any local sports body.
Q: Finally, what have you to say about your achievements as a young girl?
A: I am very happy to have established my career in sport; I do not consider this as a job to earn money. But we can learn many things about administration.
I am in 27 now and happy about my journey in sports and life. . However, I tread on this path with the help of the other members of my commission, senior and junior athletes and the NOC. I would like to take this opportunity to thank them.