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Brendon Dedekind

Born on 14 February 1976 in Pietermaritzburg, he attended Maritzburg College and swam with coach Wayne Riddin at the Seals SC. He won an international championship gold medal in the 50 m freestyle at the 1999 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships. Nicknamed Skinny Man, he competed in two consecutive Olympics, starting in 1996, when he was a finalist in the 50 m freestyle.

He attended Florida State University 1996-99 and graduated from FSU as the most decorated and accomplished swimmer in Seminole history, and completed his degree in engineering from FSU in 1999 while maintaining a dean's list status. In 1999, he became the first Seminole to win two national championships after taking the 100-yard breaststroke title.

His first title came in 1998 with the 50-freestyle. Dedekind also holds the school record for most individual All-America honours with eight and relay accolades with eight. In total, Dedekind won 10 ACC championships, including the 50-free all four years.

28 Aug 1999: Brendon Dedekind of South Africa is congratulated by Gary Hall Junior of the USA after winning the gold medal in the 50 metres freestyle during day seven of the Pan Pacific  Swimming Championships at the Aquatic Centre, Homebush, Sydney, Australia. Mandatory Credit: Adam Pretty/ALLSPORT.

2004 Florida State Athletics Hall of Fame Inductee: Brendon Dedekind

Jan. 25, 2005


Brendon Dedekind knew coming to the states from South Africa would be challenging, but he was ready to pursue his dreams of contributing to a university for four years and hopefully train for the 2000 Olympics. After some intense work both mentally and physically, Brendon was able to make and immediate impact for the garnet and gold in his freshman season.

At the ACC Championship, Brendon won the 50- and 100-meter free and was on the record-setting 200-meter free relay team. He went on to be named the ACC Rookie of the Year and qualified for the NCAAs in Texas. He was just getting started. When he realized he might have a shot at the 1996 Olympics, he returned home and qualified for a spot on the South African Olympic Team. At the Olympics, Dedekind surprised his country and fellow swimmers as he qualified for the finals of the 50-meter free and finished fifth.

The next season, Dedekind made it to the NCAA Championships. He qualified for the 50- and 100-meter free and the 100-meter breast and made it his goal not only to make the finals, but also to win the event that night. Dedekind became the first swimmer in FSU history to garner All-America honors in three events in the same year with his top five finishes in three events. He also swam the fastest heat of the 50-meter free in NCAA history. The next season, the South African became only the second swimmer in FSU history to win an individual title taking first in the 50-meter free. In his senior year, Dedekind took another NCAA title but this time in the 100-meter breaststroke.

Brendon’s international accolades include gold medalist at the Goodwill Games, Pan Pacific Swimming Championship and seventh All-Africa Games. He also won many silver and bronze medals at the international meets. He completed his FSU career as the only Seminole to reach the finals of three individual events at one NCAA competition and the only FSU swimmer to ever finish in the top 10 individual scorers. The 21-time All-American completed his degree in engineering from FSU in 1999 while maintaining a dean’s list status.

https://seminoles.com/news/2005/1/25/2004-florida-state-athletics-hall-of-fame-inductee-brendon-dedekind

International Swimming Records

  • Ranked Top 10 in the World for 5 years, having ranking as high as Number 1
  • Gold Medallist - Goodwill Games,NY, USA 1998
  • Gold Medallist - Pan Pacific Swimming Championships, Sydney, Australia 1999
  • Two Time Gold Medallist - 7thAll Africa Games, Johannesburg, RSA 1999
  • Silver Medallist - Commonwealth Games, KL, Malaysia 1998
  • Two-time Silver medallist - World SC Championships, Athens, Greece, 2000
  • Bronze Medallist - World Student Games, Sicily, 1997
  • 4thPlace - Pan Pacific Championships, Fukuoka, 1997
  • 5thPlace - Olympic Games, Atlanta, 1996
  • 6thPlace - World Championships, Perth, January 1998

South African Records

Long Course Meters

  • National Championin the 50m Freestyle (96,97,98,99,00)
  • National Championin the 100m Freestyle (97,98)

Short Course Meters

  • National Championin 50m Freestyle (98, 99)
  • National Championin the 100 Freestyle (98, 99)
  • National Championin the 50 Breaststroke (98, 99)
    • Commonwealth, South African and Africa Record Holder
  • National Championin the 100 IM (98)
    • South African and Africa Record Holder
  • National Championin the 50 Fly (99)

NCAA Records (1996-1999)

  • National Championships
    • 1999 Champion - 100 yd. Breaststroke
    • 1998 Champion - 50 yd. Freestyle
    • Two Time Top 10 Individual Scorer
    • Twenty one time All-American
  • Atlantic Coast Conference Championships
    • 13thPerson in history to win the same event in 4 consecutive years
    • Ten time Individual Champion
    • Rookie of the year
    • Two time Swimmer of the Championships(MVP)
    • Three time Swimmer of the year
    • Three Individual and four Relay Championship Records
  • Florida State University
    • Four Time School MVP
    • Only Seminoleto Final in 3 individual events at one National Competition
    • Only Seminoleto ever finish in the Top 10 Individual Scorers
    • Three Individual Four relay School records
    • Four Time Golden Nole Award Winner

Personal Statistics (as of 7/15/2000)

  • 50 Freestyle
    06 LCM – 5thfastest human ever over this distance.
    21.62 SCM
    19.17 SCY
  • 100 Freestyle
    50 LCM
    48.12 SCM
    42.96 SCY
  • 50 Breaststroke
    1 SCM
  • 100 Breaststroke
    16 SCY
  • 100 Individual Medley
    41 SCM

Positions of Leadership/Honour

  • South African Flag Bearer – 1997 & 1999 Pan Pacific Swimming Champs
  • South African Team Captain at the 7thAll Africa Games (600 Team members)
  • South African Swimming Team Captain – Commonwealth Games 1998
  • South African Swimming Team Captain – Pan Pacific Swimming Championships 1999
  • South African Swimming Team Captain – World Short Course Championships 2000

Education

  • Electrical Engineer - Florida State University – December 1999
  • ODK (National Leadership Honor Society)

Numerous Honour Roll, Dean’s List student

Click here to see his complete college swimming record at Florida State University