Lyndon Ferns (born 24 September 1983 in Pietersburg, South Africa)[1] is a retired Olympic gold-medalist and former world record swimmer from South Africa. He swam for South Africa at the 2004 and 2008 Olympics.[2]
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nationality |  South Africa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 24 September 1983 Pietersburg (now Polokwane), South Africa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 198 lb (90 kg) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Swimming | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Strokes | Sprint Freestyle / Butterfly | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Club | Ford Aquatics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| College team | Arizona Wildcats (USA) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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At the 2004 Olympics, he was a member of South Africa's Men's 4×100 m freestyle relay that won the event in a world record. Three of the team were a part of the relay that broke the record and won gold at the 2006 Commonwealth Games.
During the 2007 World Championships held in Melbourne, Australia, Lyndon became the first man out of Africa to complete the 100m butterfly in under 52 seconds, touching the wall in 51.90 seconds and with that breaking his own African record. He was also part of the 4 × 100 m freestyle and 4 × 100 m medley relay, both placing fourth.
Lyndon also competed at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, where he set the African record in the 100m freestyle at 48.00, earning a sixth place in the finals. He also competed in the 100m butterfly, 4 × 100 m freestyle relay and 4 × 100 m medley relay.
In May 2009, it was announced that he was part of South Africa's team to the 2009 World Championships. At the 2009 World Championships, Lyndon became the first male athlete from Africa, to complete the 100m freestyle in under 48 seconds, setting the African record at 47.79 seconds. He is still the only man from Africa to have completed the 100m freestyle in a sub 48 second swim.[3] He is the holder of the following records: (Updated July 2014)
- African records: 100 m freestyle, 4×100 m freestyle relay
- South African records: 100 m freestyle, 4×100 m Freestyle relay
In April 2011, Lyndon retired from competitive swimming.
College
editHe attended the University of Arizona,[4] where he competed at the NCAA level for his four years of eligibility under the tutelage of former-Olympian, world-renowned sprint coach, Rick DeMont. Lyndon completed his eligibility as a 24-time All-American, NCAA record holder, 3-time relay national champion as well as national champion in the 100y butterfly. While at UA, Lyndon completed his Bsc Accounting degree and now lives in South Africa.
Personal bests
edit| Event | Time | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 50 lcm Freestyle | 22.22 | April 2008 |
| 100 lcm Freestyle | 47.79 | July 2009 |
| 100 lcm Butterfly | 51.69 | June 2009 |
| Event | Time | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 50 scm Freestyle | 21.28 | July 2006 |
| 50 scm Butterfly | 22.83 | July 2006 |
| 100 scm Freestyle | 46.00 | October 2009 |
| 100 scm Butterfly | 50.17 | November 2009 |
| Event | Time | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 50 y Freestyle | 19.22 | December 2003 |
| 100 y Freestyle | 42.34 | March 2005 |
| 100 y Butterfly | 45.89 | March 2006 |
Affiliations
edit- TuksSport – University of Pretoria, South Africa[2]
- Northern Tigers
- University of Arizona, USA
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Ferns' result page". Beijing2008.cn. The Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad. Archived from the original on 17 September 2008. Retrieved 30 June 2009.
- ^ a b Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Lyndon Ferns". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 30 June 2009.
- ^ "SA swim squad announced". sport24.com.za. 12 May 2009. Retrieved 30 June 2009.
- ^ "Ferns' bio page". University of Arizona Athletics website. Archived from the original on 13 January 2009. Retrieved 30 June 2009.
