Swimmer Shirish Gurung will be eyeing yet another national record when he takes part in the 100m freestyle event heats of the Rio Olympic Games here at the Olympics Aquatic Stadium on Tuesday.

The Tribhuvan Army Club swimmer has shattered national records for 45 times in his 13-year career. And he is hoping to get one in Olympics. “I have worked hard for this opportunity and I won’t let it go slip from hands,” Gurung told The Himalayan Times. “I want to make it a memorable outing for me,” added Gurung, who has the record of 58.22 seconds in 100m freestyle set during the 16th FINA World Championship in Kazan last year.

Gurung said the opportunity to represent the country was a dream come true. “Olympics is a dream of every athlete and I want to make the most out of it.” The 17-year-old Gurung currently holds 15 national records — 12 in individual events and three team events.

Gurung, who started swimming at the age of five and took it seriously after two years, has prepared for the Rio Games under Olympic Scholarship. “I trained in Thailand for one year under the scholarship and that has helped me a lot in my game as well as being mentally strong,” said Gurung, who also participated in Incheon Asian Games in 2015.

Gurung came close to winning bronze medal in the 12th South Asian Games in India earlier this year. He had participated in 200m and 400m Individual Medley events and 200m Freestyle. In 400m, Gurung finished fourth by small margin.

Gurung was well aware about his strength. “I know we are in Olympics, but we are here not with the target of reaching semi-finals or winning medals,” said Gurung. “I have set a target for me. I want to break the national record and I will try my best to do that,” he said. “I think I have 75 per cent chance to improve the mark,” said Gurung.

Another swimmer, Gaurika Singh completed her event yesterday. Singh finished 31st among 34 swimmers and also failed to break the national record in 100m backstroke.