View source for Susanthika Jayasinghe

{{short description|Sri Lankan sprinter}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| honorific_prefix = [[Deshabandu]]
| name = Susanthika Jayasinghe
| image = Osaka07 D7A Susanthika Jayasinghe medal.jpg
| alt = Susanthika Jayasinghe
| caption = Jayasinghe at the 2007 World Championships|<!-- Personal information -->
| native_name = සුසන්තිකා ජයසිංහ
| native_name_lang = lk
| nickname = Asian black Mare
| nationality = [[Sri Lanka]]n
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1975|12|17}}
| birth_place = Uduwaka, [[Sri Lanka]]
| death_date = 
| death_place = 
| occupation = Sprinter
| years_active = 1994–2009|<!-- Sport -->
| country = Sri Lanka
| sport = [[Track and field]]
| event = [[Sprint (running)|Sprint]]
| turnedpro = 1994
| turnedpro_type = International level
| retired = 5 February 2009|<!-- Achievements and titles -->
| olympics = [[2000 Summer Olympics|2000 Sydney]]
| pb = '''[[100 metres|100 m]]''': 11.04<ref name=dailynews>Chris Dhambarage [http://archives.dailynews.lk/2010/02/04/supstory.asp?id=s35 Sports striving for greater heights after Independence] 4 February 2010. Retrieved 6 October 2019.</ref> September 9, 2000 ([[Yokohama]], [[Japan]])<br />'''[[200 m]]''': 22.28 September 28, 2000 ([[Sydney]], [[Australia]])|<!-- Medal record -->
| show-medals = yes
| medaltemplates = {{Medal|Sport|Women's [[Athletics (sport)|athletics]]}}
{{Medal|Country | {{SRI}} }}
{{MedalCount
|[[Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]|0|1|0
|[[IAAF World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]|0|1|1
|[[IAAF Continental Cup|Continental Cup]]|0|1|1
|[[Asian Games]]|1|2|1
|[[Asian Athletics Championships|Asian Championships]]|6|1|0
|[[Lusophony Games]]|2|0|0
|[[South Asian Games]]|4|0|0
|'''Total'''|'''9'''|'''6'''|'''3'''
}}
{{MedalCount
|[[100 metres|100 m]]|4|3|0
|[[200 metres|200 m]]|4|3|3
|[[4 × 100 m relay]]|1|0|0
}}
{{Medal|Competition|[[Athletics at the Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]}}
{{Medal|Silver|[[Athletics at the 2000 Summer Olympics|2000 Sydney]]|[[Athletics at the 2000 Summer Olympics – Women's 200 metres|200 m]]}}
{{Medal|Competition|[[IAAF World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]}}
{{Medal|Silver|[[1997 World Championships in Athletics|1997 Athens]]|[[1997 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 200 metres|200 m]]}}
{{Medal|Bronze|[[2007 World Championships in Athletics|2007 Osaka]]|[[2007 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 200 metres|200 m]]}}
{{Medal|Competition|[[IAAF World Cup|Continental Cup]]}}
{{Medal|Silver|[[2002 IAAF World Cup|2002 Madrid]]|100 m}}
{{Medal|Bronze|[[2002 IAAF World Cup|2002 Madrid]]|200 m}}
{{Medal|Competition|[[Asian Games]]}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[2002 Asian Games|2002 Busan]]|100 m}}
{{Medal|Silver|[[1994 Asian Games|1994 Hiroshima]]|200 m}}
{{Medal|Silver|[[2006 Asian Games|2006 Doha]]|100 m}}
{{Medal|Bronze|[[2006 Asian Games|2006 Doha]]|200 m}}
{{Medal|Competition|[[Asian Athletics Championships|Asian Championships]]}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[1995 Asian Athletics Championships|1995 Jakarta]]|200 m}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[2000 Asian Athletics Championships|2000 Jakarta]]|4 × 100 m}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[2002 Asian Athletics Championships|2002 Colombo]]|100 m}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[2002 Asian Athletics Championships|2002 Colombo]]|200 m}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[2007 Asian Athletics Championships|2007 Amman]]|100 m}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[2007 Asian Athletics Championships|2007 Amman]]|200 m}}
{{Medal|Silver|[[1995 Asian Athletics Championships|1995 Jakarta]]|100 m}}
{{Medal|Competition|[[Lusophony Games]]}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[2006 Lusophony Games|2006 Macao]]|[[Athletics at the 2006 Lusophony Games|100 m]]}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[2006 Lusophony Games|2006 Macao]]|[[Athletics at the 2006 Lusophony Games|200 m]]}}
{{Medal|Competition|[[South Asian Games]]}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[1995 South Asian Games|1995 Chennai]]|[[Athletics at the 1995 South Asian Games|100 m]]}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[1995 South Asian Games|1995 Chennai]]|[[Athletics at the 1995 South Asian Games|200 m]]}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[2004 South Asian Games|2004 Islamabad]]|[[Athletics at the 2004 South Asian Games|200 m]]}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[2006 South Asian Games|2006 Colombo]]|[[Athletics at the 2006 South Asian Games|200 m]]}}
| medaltemplates-title = 
| updated = 7 September 2021
}}

[[Deshabandu]] '''Kameradin Susanthika Jayasinghe'''<ref>{{cite news|title=National Honours – 2017|newspaper=[[The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)|The Daily Mirror]]|date=21 March 2017|url=http://www.dailymirror.lk/article/National-Honours--125878.html|access-date=2019-10-06}}</ref> ({{langx|si|සුසන්තිකා ජයසිංහ}}; [[Tamil language|Tamil]]: சுசந்திகா ஜயசிங்ஹ, born December 17, 1975) is a [[Sri Lanka]]n retired [[Sprint (running)|sprinter]], who specialised in the [[100 metres|100]] and [[200 metres]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-04-17|title=Susanthika Jayasinghe Bio, Stats, and Results {{!}} Olympics at Sports-Reference.com|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ja/susanthika-jayasinghe-1.html|access-date=2021-09-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417051652/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ja/susanthika-jayasinghe-1.html|archive-date=2020-04-17}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Susanthika JAYASINGHE|url=https://olympics.com/en/athletes/susanthika-jayasinghe|access-date=2021-09-07|website=Olympics.com}}</ref> She won the [[Olympic Games|Olympic]] silver medal for the 200 m event in the [[2000 Summer Olympics]] in [[Sydney]], the second Sri Lankan to win an Olympic medal after [[Duncan White]] and the first Asian woman to win an Olympic or World Championship medal in a sprint event.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Five South Asian sportspeople you should know more about|language=en-GB|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/57884865|access-date=2021-09-07}}</ref> She is also the only Asian athlete to have claimed an Olympic medal in sprint events. She is also the first and only Sri Lankan to win a medal at the [[World Athletics Championships]]. Her silver medal achievement at the 2000 Sydney Olympics also stood as the only Olympic medal for a South Asian in athletics event for 21 years before [[Neeraj Chopra]]'s gold medal achievement at the 2020 Summer Olympics for [[India]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-08-07|title=Finally, South Asian wins Olympic medal in Athletics after Susanthika Jayasinghe in 2000|url=https://www.newswire.lk/2021/08/07/finally-south-asian-wins-olympic-medal-in-athletics-after-susanthika-jayasinghe-in-2000/|access-date=2021-09-07|website=NewsWire|language=en-US}}</ref> She is fondly nicknamed as the '''Asian Black Mare'''.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Nadeera|first=Dilshan|title=Black Mare unaware her bronze turned silver|date=26 November 2020 |url=http://island.lk/black-mare-unaware-her-bronze-turned-silver/|access-date=2021-09-07|language=en-US}}</ref> She has represented [[Sri Lanka at the Olympics]] on three occasions in 1996, 2000 and 2008. She is considered one of the most decorated sprinters in Sri Lanka. However, she is also a deemed as a controversial figure in Sri Lanka.

She became a victim of politics during the peak of her career as many politicians and sports officials attempted to take credit for her medal achievements despite not supporting her prior to competing at the events.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Towards the real emancipation of women|url=https://www.dailynews.lk/2021/03/08/features/243375/towards-real-emancipation-women|access-date=2021-09-07|website=Daily News|language=en}}</ref> She was embroiled in political controversies including a series of false doping allegations, standoff with politicians, seven year old murder trials against her former spouse and sexual harassment.<ref>{{Cite web|last=JAYASINGHE|first=AMAL|title=Sri Lanka sprint star bitter after state neglect|url=https://www.dailynews.lk/2016/08/03/sports/89302|access-date=2021-09-08|website=Daily News|language=en}}</ref> She was also sidelined for major part of her career due to injury concerns and also endured a troubled marriage life.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=The plight of an Olympian - Opinion {{!}} Daily Mirror|url=https://www.dailymirror.lk/opinion/The-plight-of-an-Olympian/172-114999|access-date=2021-09-07|website=www.dailymirror.lk|language=English}}</ref>

== Early years==
Jayasinghe was born in Ethnawala, [[Warakapola Divisional Secretariat|Warakapola]], [[Uduwaka]], Sri Lanka. She was born as the fifth and youngest child in her family.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2015-09-28|title=Remembering Susanthika Sydney Olympics victory - fifteen years after|url=https://www.newsfirst.lk/2015/09/28/remembering-susanthika-sydney-olympics-victory-fifteen-years-after/|access-date=2021-09-07|website=Sri Lanka News - Newsfirst|language=en}}</ref> She was brought up in a poor family in a small village 60 kilometres north of [[Colombo]], where running spikes cost more than the average month's wage, she had no access to proper [[sports equipment]] or [[coach (sport)|coaches]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Susanthika: Sri Lanka's Olympic Icon|url=https://www.dailynews.lk/2021/08/09/features/256047/susanthika-sri-lanka%E2%80%99s-olympic-icon|access-date=2021-09-07|website=Daily News|language=en}}</ref>

Her father who served as a bus driver at the [[Ceylon Transport Board]] had eventually lost his job by the time she was born. The burden fell on the shoulders of her mother who cut rubber trees to run the family. Later on Susanthika too lent a helping hand to her family by rolling [[beedi]]. She earned around Rs. 22.50 by selling about 15000 beedis within four days.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=Krishnamohan|first=Theviyanthan|date=2014-10-10|title=From abyss to summit: The story of Asia's only female Olympic medalist in sprinting|url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/athletics/the-susanthika-story|access-date=2021-09-07|website=www.sportskeeda.com|language=en-us}}</ref> Despite the financial tussles, she pursued her primary education at the Uduwaka Junior School.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-10-03|title=Susanthika begins a new crusade|url=https://archives1.sundayobserver.lk/2020/10/04/sports/susanthika-begins-new-crusade|access-date=2021-09-07|website=Sunday Observer|language=en}}</ref> She later switched to Athnawala Maha Vidyalaya to continue her studies.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sri Lanka Sports News {{!}} Online edition of Daily News - Lakehouse Newspapers|url=http://archives.dailynews.lk/2009/02/21/spo17.asp|access-date=2021-09-07|website=archives.dailynews.lk}}</ref>

She was encouraged to take up athletics by an army officer who watched her closely when she was running in an inter-school competition at the age of 16. The army officer who watched her event as a spectator recommended her to join Sri Lanka Army soon after completing the school education. She agreed his offer and signed up as a volunteer recruit and also trained hard in athletics while being attached with the army.<ref>{{Cite web|date=1997-08-12|title=The school race that changed her life|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/news-archive/the-school-race-that-changed-her-life/|access-date=2021-09-07|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref>

She enlisted in the [[Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force]] to pursue her athletic career, and was attached to the 3rd Battalion, [[Sri Lanka Army Women's Corps]] (SLAWC) as a [[Private (rank)|Private]]. In 1994, she competed in the All Island Athletic Championship from a team from the SLAWC and won the best player trophy.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sports History Of The Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force |url=https://alt.army.lk/slawc/history-wc_5 |website=army.lk |publisher=Sri Lanka Army |access-date=17 June 2020}}</ref>

== Professional athletics career ==
She rose to prominence at the age of 18 after claiming a gold in 200 m and a silver in 100 m events during the 1994 Asian Junior Championships which was held in Jakarta.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-07-10|title=Susanthika's Olympic medal and her courageous journey on the track|url=https://archives1.sundayobserver.lk/2021/07/11/susanthika%E2%80%99s-olympic-medal-and-her-courageous-journey-track|access-date=2021-09-07|website=Sunday Observer|language=en}}</ref>

She thereafter joined the Sri Lankan national athletic squad competing in the [[Athletics at the 1994 Asian Games|1994 Asian Games]].<ref>{{cite news |title=I'm looking for two gold medals: Susanthika |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/sports/i-m-looking-for-two-gold-medals-susanthika/cid/1031637 |access-date=17 June 2020 |publisher=telegraphindia.com}}</ref> She made her [[South Asian Games]] debut at the age of 15 during the 1995 edition and claimed gold medals in 100 m and 200 m sprint events. She also got due recognition for her silver medal performances in 100 m events at the Australian Open and Taipei Open in 1995.

She made her maiden Olympic appearance at the age of 20 representing [[Sri Lanka at the 1996 Summer Olympics]] and competed in the women's 100 m event.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-04-17|title=Athletics at the 1996 Atlanta Summer Games: Women's 100 metres {{!}} Olympics at Sports-Reference.com|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/summer/1996/ATH/womens-100-metres.html|access-date=2021-09-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417051118/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/summer/1996/ATH/womens-100-metres.html|archive-date=2020-04-17}}</ref> She clinched silver medal in the [[1997 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 200 metres|women's 200 m race]] at the [[1997 World Championships in Athletics|1997 World Championships]]. She also became the first Sri Lankan to win a medal at the World Athletics Championships.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-05-16|title=Sri Lanka athletics dashing to a glorious century|url=https://archives1.sundayobserver.lk/2020/05/17/sports/sri-lanka-athletics-dashing-glorious-century|access-date=2021-09-07|website=Sunday Observer|language=en}}</ref>

With no support from her national athletics association, she had to go heavily into debt to reach the Olympics. She faced severe financial constraints and mental challenges before her journey to the 2000 Sydney Olympics. She even auctioned and sold out all her trophies in order to raise adequate funds to buy tickets with the intention of training in the USA prior to the Sydney Olympics.

She qualified to take part at the 2000 Summer Olympics after winning the 100 m sprint event at the National Athletics Championships. Notably, she competed in her first track event at the home soil after a gap of 2 years as she was sidelined for several months after sustaining a hamstring injury.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Sunday Times Sports Section|url=https://www.sundaytimes.lk/001231/sports2.html|access-date=2021-09-07|website=www.sundaytimes.lk}}</ref>

Just a month prior to the scheduled Olympic event, she bettered her own national record in 200 m sprint event twice within just 2 days at the 25th National Sports Festival in August 2000. She also went onto claim gold medals in both 100 m and 200 m events at the 2000 National Sports Festival in her comeback return to the field after successfully recovering from a hamstring injury which ruled her out for several months.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Sunday Times Sports Plus Section|url=https://www.sundaytimes.lk/000827/splus2.html|access-date=2021-09-07|website=www.sundaytimes.lk}}</ref>

In the [[Athletics at the 2000 Summer Olympics – Women's 200 metres|women's 200 meters]] at the 2000 Summer Olympics, she finished behind [[Marion Jones]] and [[Pauline Davis-Thompson]] to win the bronze medal and became Sri Lanka's first [[Olympic medalist]] since [[Ceylon at the 1948 Summer Olympics|1948]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Scripting a new chapter|url=https://sportstar.thehindu.com/magazine/scripting-a-new-chapter/article29639464.ece|access-date=2021-09-07|website=Sportstar|date=4 July 2003 |language=en}}</ref> On October 5, 2007, Jones admitted to having taken performance-enhancing drugs prior to the Olympics, and Jayasinghe was later awarded the silver medal.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/olympics/trackandfield/news/story?id=4727911|title=IOC reallocates Jones' medals|website=[[ESPN.com]]|publisher=[[ESPN]]|date=9 December 2009|access-date=2019-10-06}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Grohmann|first=Karolos|date=2009-12-09|title=Two of Jones' Sydney Games medals reallocated|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-olympics-doping-jones-medals-idUSTRE5B845X20091209|access-date=2021-09-07}}</ref>

Jayasinghe was suspended from competition in April 1998 for failing a drug test that she claimed was rigged because of her political beliefs and a falling out with a Sports Ministry official.<ref>{{Cite web|date=|title=Sri Lankan NOC hold webinar on sexual abuse and harassment in sport|url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1097594/sri-lanka-noc-sexual-abuse-webinar|access-date=2021-09-07|website=www.insidethegames.biz}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.dailynews.lk/2018/05/18/tc/151263/susanthika-jayasinghe-queen-track | title=SUSANTHIKA JAYASINGHE QUEEN of the track }}</ref> She was later cleared of the offense.<ref>{{Cite web|title=BBC News {{!}} South Asia {{!}} Sri Lankan cleared of drug charges|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/158141.stm|access-date=2021-09-07|website=news.bbc.co.uk}}</ref> During a press conference for the women's 200 m medalists at the 2000 Olympics, when asked whether her country would be proud of her, she said in a quiet voice:

<blockquote>
"I can't explain. You wouldn't understand. They give me, trouble, trouble, trouble. I give them bronze medal. It'll make them sad... It was trouble with me. Doping and sexual harassment."
</blockquote>She alleged during a live segment on [[Lasantha Wickrematunge]]'s show that the minister [[S. B. Dissanayake]] had attempted to sexually harass her.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Sunday Times Political Column|url=https://www.sundaytimes.lk/971123/pol.html|access-date=2021-09-08|website=www.sundaytimes.lk}}</ref> Later, Jayasinghe claimed that she did not specifically accuse Minister Dissanayaka.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Sport|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2000/20001005/sports.htm#2|access-date=2021-09-07|publisher=Tribuneindia.com}}</ref> The television program where Susie made her allegations against S. B. Dissanayake which was aired on [[TNL TV]] was suspended after the involvement of powerful politicians.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Police try to stop TNL repeat telecast of Susie on SB|url=https://www.sundaytimes.lk/091213/News/nws_05.html|access-date=2021-09-08|website=www.sundaytimes.lk}}</ref>

She then went on to speak of officials coming to her house, giving her a drug test and refusing to seal the urine specimen with her watching. She refused to sign the release. Later they told her she had tested positive for [[nandrolone]]. By the time she was cleared, she was no longer welcome by her country's sporting establishment.<ref>Adrian
Wojnarowski: ''[http://www.sawnet.org/news/jayasinghe1.txt A bit of foolishness to ease the tension] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100620081557/http://sawnet.org/news/jayasinghe1.txt|date=20 June 2010}}'', Friday, September 29, 2000.</ref>

After returning home with her Olympic medal she was attacked by a male athlete because, she believed, she had been supporting former government members in an election campaign. It was believed that she reportedly wore a yellow ribbon around her wrist during the 2000 Summer Olympics women's 200 m final and also during the medal ceremony in a show of support for a political movement.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=COLOMBO|last2=heroine|first2=Sri Lanka-Sixteen years ago sprinter Susanthika Jayasinghe was a national|last3=return|first3=having become Sri Lanka's first woman to win an Olympic medal Today she is a struggling single mother with only bitterness towards a country she says has given her nothing in|title=Olympics: Sri Lanka sprint star bitter after state neglect|url=https://www.rappler.com/sports/sri-lanka-sprint-star-bitter-state-neglect|access-date=2021-09-08|website=Rappler|date=2 August 2016|language=en}}</ref> The [[Government of Sri Lanka]] failed to deliver an hero's welcome when she returned from Sydney with her bronze medal and instead the politicians of the government made scathing attack on her.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Constable|first=Pamela|author-link=Pamela Constable |date=2000-10-09|title=Sri Lankan Olympic Medalist Greeted By Controversy at Home|language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2000/10/09/sri-lankan-olympic-medalist-greeted-by-controversy-at-home/6128b828-cdf3-4f64-8d6f-6d759c493421/|access-date=2021-09-08|issn=0190-8286}}</ref><ref name=":1" />

However, after her medal achievement she was supported by a national fundraising drive in her homeland. She visited [[Los Angeles]] to train with [[Nagalingam Ethirveerasingam]] ([[Asian Games]] Gold Medalist in the [[high jump]] in [[1958 Asian Games|1958]], and two time Olympian in the high jump, in 1952 and 1956). In May 2001, she also underwent a four-month training stint from American coach Tony Campbell before competing at the [[2001 World Championships in Athletics|2001 World Athletics Championships]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2001-05-10|title=Probe against Sri Lanka athletics body chief|url=https://zeenews.india.com/home/probe-against-sri-lanka-athletics-body-chief_12933.html|access-date=2021-09-07|website=Zee News|language=en}}</ref>

She was the [[List of flag bearers for Sri Lanka at the Olympics|flag bearer for Sri Lanka]] during the [[2004 Summer Olympics national flag bearers|opening ceremony of the 2004 Summer Olympics]]. She was slated to be on the entry list for the women's 100 metres but a fracture in her right leg caused her to pull out from the competition.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2004-08-12|title=Susanthika Jayasinghe|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/susanthika-jayasinghe/story-KGiuZBAcVOlA0bCovVM7XP.html|access-date=2021-09-07|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Straight Talk by Lal Gunawardena|url=https://archives.sundayobserver.lk/2004/08/15/spo13.html|access-date=2021-09-07|website=archives.sundayobserver.lk}}</ref> She continued to struggle with injury concerns throughout 2005 and returned to action in 2006.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Jayasinghe continues comeback season in good vein in Colombo {{!}} NEWS {{!}} World Athletics|url=https://www.worldathletics.org/news/news/jayasinghe-continues-comeback-season-in-good|access-date=2021-09-07|website=www.worldathletics.org}}</ref> On her comeback return she claimed gold medal in women's 200 m event at the [[2006 South Asian Games]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=India reign at South Asian Games|url=https://www.rediff.com/sports/2006/aug/28sag.htm|access-date=2021-09-07|website=www.rediff.com}}</ref>

Shortly thereafter, she won gold medals in the 100 m and 200 m at the [[2007 Asian Athletics Championships]] in [[Jordan]] and a bronze medal in the [[2007 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 200 metres|200 m race]] at the [[2007 IAAF World Championships]]. It was her first World Championship medal in 10 years.<ref>{{Cite web|title=2007 What was|url=https://www.sundaytimes.lk/071230/Plus/plus00011.html|access-date=2021-09-07|website=www.sundaytimes.lk}}</ref> On 13 August 2007 she was ranked by the [[International Association of Athletics Federations|IAAF]] as 18th in the world for the 100 m sprint and 20th in the world for the 200 m sprint.

She also appeared as the flagbearer for Sri Lanka in both the [[2008 Summer Olympics Parade of Nations|opening]] and [[2008 Summer Olympics closing ceremony flag bearers|closing ceremonies]] of the [[2008 Summer Olympics]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-04-17|title=Sri Lanka {{!}} Olympics at Sports-Reference.com|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/countries/SRI/|access-date=2021-09-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417092900/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/countries/SRI/|archive-date=2020-04-17}}</ref> She became the first and only Sri Lankan athlete to have appeared as a flagbearer in two Olympic events.

On February 5, 2009, Jayasinghe announced her retirement from sports<ref>{{cite news|url=https://zeenews.india.com/sports/others/sri-lanka-s-sprint-queen-susanthika-hangs-her-boots_504984.html|title=Sri Lanka's sprint queen Susanthika hangs her boots|agency=[[Zee News]]|date=5 February 2009|access-date=2019-10-06}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=BBCSinhala.com {{!}} Sandeshaya {{!}} Susanthika - 'a born athlete'|url=https://www.bbc.com/sinhala/news/story/2009/02/090213_susanthika_retires|access-date=2021-09-07|website=www.bbc.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Sri Lanka Sports News {{!}} Online edition of Daily News - Lakehouse Newspapers|url=http://archives.dailynews.lk/2009/12/28/spo15.asp|access-date=2021-09-07|website=archives.dailynews.lk}}</ref> in order to focus on becoming a mother.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20071215141135/http://www.aaofsrilanka.org/ Athletic Assn. of Sri Lanka: "Latest Sri Lankan Athletics News"]}} "It has been a long felt dream which would finally become a reality this year. I want to get that great feeling of becoming a mother, devote some time for my child and then look at how I am going to give something back to athletics."</ref> On March 31, 2009, she gave birth to a baby boy.<ref>[http://www.lankanewspapers.com/news/2009/3/41703_image_headline.html LankanNewspapers.com: "News Image 41703 – Susanthika Jayasinghe gives birth to a son"]</ref>

In November 2010, she announced her plan to return to competition.<ref>{{cite news|author=Gamini Gunaratna|url=http://www.colombopage.com/archive_10C/Nov28_1290961648KA.php|title=Sri Lanka : Sri Lanka sprint queen to return to competition |publisher=Colombopage.com|date=28 November 2010|access-date=2019-10-06}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/more-sports/athletics/Lankas-Olympic-medalist-sprinter-to-return-from-retirement/articleshow/7009120.cms|title=Lanka's Olympic medalist sprinter to return from retirement|work=[[The Times of India]]|date=29 November 2010|access-date=2019-10-06}}</ref>

== Honours ==
She was awarded the Most Outstanding Sportswoman of the Year in 2008 by the then Sri Lankan President [[Mahinda Rajapakse]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2008-08-12|title=NAM News Network|url=http://www.namnewsnetwork.org/v2/read.php?id=54241|access-date=2021-09-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080812053056/http://www.namnewsnetwork.org/v2/read.php?id=54241|archive-date=2008-08-12}}</ref>

She was conferred with the prestigious [[Deshabandu]] title during the [[2017 Sri Lankan national honours]] by the then President [[Maithripala Sirisena]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Marasinghe|first1=Sandasen|date=2021-09-07|title=PRESIDENT AT NATIONAL HONOURS-2017 CEREMONY|work=[[Daily News (Sri Lanka)]]|url=http://dailynews.lk/2017/03/21/local/111034/president-national-honours-2017-ceremony}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=2021-09-07|title=National Honours – 2017|work=[[The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)]]|url=http://www.dailymirror.lk/article/National-Honours--125878.html}}</ref>

== Post-sports career ==
Jayasinghe contested the [[2010 Sri Lankan parliamentary election|2010 general election]] from the Kegalle district from the [[United People's Freedom Alliance]], however failed to secure a seat.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dailymirror.lk/breaking_news/susy-to-contest-from-kegalle/108-1738|title=Susie to contest from Kegalle|work=Daily Mirror|date=19 February 2010|access-date=2019-10-06}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.colombopage.com/archive_10/Feb1267370755CH.html|title=Sri Lanka minister says ruling party fielded recognized individuals for election|date=28 February 2010|access-date=2019-10-06}}</ref> In 2016, she was appointed as a paid adviser in the [[Ministry of Sports (Sri Lanka)|Ministry of Sports]] for selecting and training prospective track athletes.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Susanthika showers praise on Sports Minister|url=https://www.dailynews.lk/2018/07/12/sports/156705/susanthika-showers-praise-sports-minister|access-date=2021-09-07|website=Daily News|language=en}}</ref> In June 2017, she attempted to sell her silver medal due to suspension of her Sports Ministry pay.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.colombopage.com/archive_17A/Jun05_1496650834CH.php|title=Sri Lanka Sports Minister denies Olympic medalist Susanthika's allegations|date=5 June 2017|access-date=2019-10-06}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Olympic Silver Medal: Susanthika suspends auction sale - Breaking News {{!}} Daily Mirror|url=https://www.dailymirror.lk/breaking_news/Olympic-Silver-Medal-Susanthika-suspends-auction-sale/108-130283|access-date=2021-09-07|website=www.dailymirror.lk|language=English}}</ref> She accused the state and government officials of continuously neglecting her despite her Olympic achievement.<ref>{{Cite web|title=I have served the country more than Sports Minister – Susanthika|url=http://www.adaderana.lk/news/41223/i-have-served-the-country-more-than-sports-minister-susanthika|access-date=2021-09-08|website=www.adaderana.lk|language=en}}</ref> She has also been a vocal critic of Sri Lanka Athletics Federation administrators over the years for the lackluster performances by Sri Lanka in athletics.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Susanthika faults administrators|url=https://www.dailymirror.lk/print/sports/susanthika-faults-administrators/244-53521|access-date=2021-09-07|website=www.dailymirror.lk|language=English}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://archives1.sundayobserver.lk/2019/06/30/susanthika-wants-athletic-officials-follow-military-system|title = Susanthika wants athletic officials to follow military system|date = 29 June 2019}}</ref>

She accompanied the Sri Lankan Athletics contingent for the [[2019 South Asian Games]] where unexpectedly Sri Lanka eclipsed the medal tally of India in athletics events during the Kathmandu South Asian Games and it also marked the first instance of Sri Lanka with a higher medal achievement than India in athletics at a South Asian Games competition after a gap of 15 years.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|last=Ranasinghe|first=Dinushki|date=2021-09-14|title=Susanthika Jayasinghe tests positive for Covid-19|url=https://www.thepapare.com/susanthika-jayasinghe-tests-positive-for-covid-19-virus/|access-date=2021-09-15|website=ThePapare.com|language=en-US}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
She married her sports trainer Dhammika Nandakumara on 17 November 2000 at the [[Ambepussa]] Rest House. Susanthika was engaged to him in 1994 and the official wedding was arranged for them after a gap of six years following the silver medal achievement for her.<ref>{{Cite web|title=She made the first move|url=https://archives.sundayobserver.lk/2007/10/21/spe03.asp|access-date=2021-09-08|website=archives.sundayobserver.lk}}</ref>

In 2016, she was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of the Diyatalawa Hospital after being diagnosed with [[Dengue fever|dengue]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sri Lanka's lone female Olympic medalist Susanthika Jayasinghe in ICU|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/sport/other/2016/dec/27/sri-lankas-lone-female-olympic-medalist-susanthika-jayasinghe-in-icu-1553632.html|access-date=2021-09-07|website=The New Indian Express|date=27 December 2016 }}</ref> In 2016, her husband was arrested for assaulting her. She was hospitalised and was discharged soon after.<ref>{{Citation|title=Susanthika hospitalised following assault husband arrested|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3SsGTFAFIs |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/Z3SsGTFAFIs |archive-date=2021-12-22 |url-status=live|language=en|access-date=2021-09-07}}{{cbignore}}</ref> She has one son and one daughter.<ref name=":0" />

On 14 September 2021, she along with her two children were tested positive for [[COVID-19]] after undergoing a PCR test.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=Susanthika Jayasinghe contracts COVID-19|url=http://www.adaderana.lk/news/76912/susanthika-jayasinghe-contracts-covid-19|access-date=2021-09-15|website=www.adaderana.lk|language=en}}</ref>

==Personal bests==
{| class=wikitable
|-
!Event
!Time
!Date
!Venue
|-
|100 m
|11.04<ref name=dailynews/>
|September 9, 2000
|[[Yokohama]], [[Japan]]
|-
|200 m
|22.28
|September 28, 2000
|[[Sydney]], [[Australia]]
|}

==Achievements==
{| {{AchievementTable|width=auto|Event=yes}}
|-
|1994
|[[Athletics at the 1994 Asian Games|Asian Games]]
|[[Hiroshima]], Japan
|style="background:silver; text-align:center;"|2nd
|200 m
|-
|rowspan=2|1995
|rowspan=2|[[1995 Asian Athletics Championships|Asian Championships]]
|rowspan=2|[[Jakarta]], Indonesia
|style="background:silver; text-align:center;"|2nd
|100 m
|-
|style="background:gold; text-align:center;"|1st
|200 m
|-
|1997
|[[1997 World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]
|[[Athens]], Greece
|style="background:silver; text-align:center;"|2nd
|[[1997 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 200 metres|200 m]]
|-
|1999
|[[1999 IAAF Grand Prix Final|IAAF Grand Prix Final]]
|[[Munich]], Germany
|style="text-align:center;"|8th
|200 m
|-
|2000
|[[Athletics at the 2000 Summer Olympics|Summer Olympics]]
|[[Sydney]], Australia
|style="background:silver; text-align:center;"|2nd
|[[Athletics at the 2000 Summer Olympics – Women's 200 metres|200 m]]
|-
|2001
|[[2001 IAAF World Indoor Championships|World Indoor Championships]]
|[[Lisbon]], Portugal
|style="text-align:center;"|4th
|[[2001 IAAF World Indoor Championships – Women's 200 metres|200 m]]
|-
|rowspan=6|2002
|rowspan=2|[[2002 Asian Athletics Championships|Asian Championships]]
|rowspan=2|[[Colombo]], Sri Lanka
|style="background:gold; text-align:center;"|1st
|100 m
|-
|style="background:gold; text-align:center;"|1st
|200 m
|-
|[[Athletics at the 2002 Commonwealth Games|Commonwealth Games]]
|[[Manchester]], England
|style="text-align:center;"|4th
|100 m
|-
|[[Athletics at the 2002 Asian Games|Asian Games]]
|[[Busan]], South Korea
|style="background:gold; text-align:center;"|1st
|100 m
|-
|rowspan=2|[[2002 IAAF World Cup|IAAF World Cup]]
|rowspan=2|[[Madrid]], Spain
|style="background:silver; text-align:center;"|2nd
|[[2002 IAAF World Cup results|100 m]]
|-
|style="background:#c96; text-align:center;"|3rd
|200 m
|-
|rowspan=2|2006
|rowspan=2|[[Athletics at the 2006 Asian Games|Asian Games]]
|rowspan=2|[[Doha]], [[Qatar]]
|style="background:silver; text-align:center;"|2nd
|100 m
|-
|style="background:#c96; text-align:center;"|3rd
|200 m
|-
|rowspan=3|2007
|rowspan=2|[[2007 Asian Athletics Championships|Asian Championships]]
|rowspan=2|[[Amman]], Jordan
|style="background:gold; text-align:center;"|1st
|100 m
|-
|style="background:gold; text-align:center;"|1st
|200 m
|-
|[[2007 World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]
|[[Osaka]], Japan
|style="background:#c96; text-align:center;"|3rd
|[[2007 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 200 metres|200 m]]
|}

==See also==
*[[Duncan White]]
*[[Sriyantha Dissanayake]]
*[[Nagalingam Ethirveerasingam]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* {{sports links}}
*{{World Athletics}}

{{S-start}}
{{s-sports|oly}}
{{Succession box|before=[[Damayanthi Dharsha]]|title=[[List of flag bearers for Sri Lanka at the Olympics|Flagbearer]] for {{SRI}}|years=[[2004 Summer Olympics|Athens 2004]]<br />[[2008 Summer Olympics|Beijing 2008]]|after=[[Niluka Karunaratne]]}}
{{S-end}}

{{Asian Games Champions Athletics 100 m Women}}
{{Footer Asian Champions women's 100 metres}}
{{Footer Asian Champions women's 200 metres}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jayasinghe, Susanthika}}
[[Category:1975 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Kegalle District]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Sabaragamuwa Province]]
[[Category:Sri Lankan women sprinters]]
[[Category:Olympic athletes for Sri Lanka]]
[[Category:Olympic silver medalists for Sri Lanka]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2000 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2008 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games athletes for Sri Lanka]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2002 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:World Athletics Championships medalists]]
[[Category:World Athletics Championships athletes for Sri Lanka]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1994 Asian Games]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1998 Asian Games]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2002 Asian Games]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2006 Asian Games]]
[[Category:Sinhalese people]]
[[Category:Sri Lankan Buddhists]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2000 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Asian Games gold medalists for Sri Lanka]]
[[Category:Asian Games silver medalists for Sri Lanka]]
[[Category:Asian Games bronze medalists for Sri Lanka]]
[[Category:Asian Games athletes for Sri Lanka]]
[[Category:Olympic silver medalists in athletics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1994 Asian Games]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2002 Asian Games]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2006 Asian Games]]
[[Category:Sri Lanka Army Women's Corps soldiers]]
[[Category:Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force soldiers]]
[[Category:Deshabandu]]
[[Category:Olympic women sprinters]]
[[Category:Asian Athletics Championships winners]]
[[Category:Asian Athletics Championships medalists]]
[[Category:Asian Games gold medalists in athletics (track and field)]]
[[Category:Asian Games silver medalists in athletics (track and field)]]
[[Category:Asian Games bronze medalists in athletics (track and field)]]