Colombo, Sri Lanka, July 28, 2024: Sri Lanka's Hangzhou Asian Games women’s 800m champion, Tharushi Karunarathna, says the Paris 2024 Olympics is just the start of her journey.
Karunarathna, 19, is the youngest athlete from Sri Lanka at the Paris Games and earned her berth through the World Athletics Olympic Qualification Rankings in the women’s 800m event.
Making her Olympic debut is in itself a major feat for the Sri Lankan middle distance runner who also won the gold medal at the 2023 Asian Championships in Bangkok, Thailand last year.
“I think my journey has just begun and I still have a long way to go. My hope is to participate in the Olympics multiple times and bring glory and medals to Sri Lanka. The Paris Olympics is just the beginning of my journey,” Karunarathna was quoted by the Sri Lankan media before departing for France.
Karunarathna, who will begin her Olympic campaign in the heats on Friday, August 2, will run with the memory of her mother’s smile inspiring her.
“My mother was with me when I received the telephone call that I was going to Paris. The smile on her face was the best reaction I got, for that smile was full of happiness and pride, and it reflected the sheer sacrifice mothers make for their children to succeed,” Karunaratha revealed.
Last October in Hangzhou, China, Karunarathna became the first Sri Lankan to win a gold medal in athletics at the Asian Games since Busan 2002.
“Although I’m only 19, I think I have gained a lot of experience by taking part in a number of international events. I know this experience will help me. But, as I stated, these Olympics are just the start of my journey.”
