A defining moment in the lives of these four men. The South African squad of Roland Schoeman (split 48:38), Lyndon Ferns (48:34), Darian Townsend (49:13) and Ryk Neethling(47:99) - clocked 3 minutes and 13.17 seconds to triumph over the Netherlands (2nd) and the US team (3rd).

Darian Roy Townsend was born on 28 August 1984 in Pinetown. Unlike his teammates in 2004, his was a thoroughly English upbringing in Pietermaritzburg. He attended Merchiston Preparatory School and matriculated from Maritzburg College in 2002. He swam with coach Wayne Riddin at the Seals Swimming Club in Pietermaritzburg.

He swam for South Africa at three Olympic Games from 2004 - 2012. The highlight of his Olympic swimming career was the men's relay at the 2004 Athens Games, where he was the Englishman amongst the Afrikaners from Bloemfontein, Pietersburg, and Pretoria.

After school, he took up a scholarship to swim at the University of Arizona, where he joined Lyndon Ferns, Ryk Neethling, and Roland Schoeman. He became a U.S. citizen during the summer of 2014 and has subsequently represented the United States in international events. Since becoming a citizen Townsend has represented the USA in the 2014 Short Course World Championships, the 2015 Aquatic Super Series, as well as at the 2015 Pan American Games

Darian retired from competitive swimming in 2017, although he did swim in the 2017 Midmar Mile. About the race, he says: "It’s all about having fun. I started coming when I was six years old. I love it here. " 

He is now Head Coach of the YMCA West Side Silver Fins and as the Senior Aquatics Director for the Southwest Valley Family YMCA in Phoenix, Arizona.

During his collegiate career at the University of Florida and the University of Arizona, Townsend was a five-time NCAA Relay Champion and a two-time individual NCAA champion in the 200 FR (2007) and 200 IM (2008).

Darian continues to train and race in Master’s Swimming, holding more than 25 Master’s World Records. In 2018 for the third time in his career, Darian Townsend was named one of Swimming World’s Top 12 World Masters Swimmers of the Year, having also been recognized in 2014 and 2016. 

“Making the decision to retire from professional swimming is not an easy one. Ever since I was 12 years old, my passion has been to compete at the highest level. I did that for over 15 years and I thoroughly enjoyed every second of it.  Swimming has given me so much. I have traveled the world, made many lifelong friends, received an education, and met my soul mate. I could not have asked for more. I feel it is now time to switch my focus to educating and training the swimmers of the future.

I’d like to thank all the coaches I have worked with in my career, firstly for being so patient and secondly for caring. Without your passion and belief in me, I would never have achieved the things I did.

To my family; Mom, Dad, Cheryl, and Claire. Thank you for understanding and supporting me through all the ups and downs. Having you guys as my support team helped me more than you’ll ever know.

Roland, Lyndon, and Ryk. What we achieved in Athens in 2004 was really special and I will relive those incredible scenes in my head for the rest of my life. Thank you for being my brothers.”

Darian Townsend: Life of a Professional International Athlete

Feature by Elle Meinholz, Swimming World internship

May 7, 2013

Just like many young competitive swimmers, South African Olympic Gold Medallist Darian Townsend dreamed of continuing his swimming career in college. Unlike these swimmers who grow up and move miles away from home to swim as college athletes, Townsend wound up in an entirely different country as he moved to the United States to further his education and continue pursuing his passion for the sport of swimming.

From a swimming family, Townsend started swimming at a young age. Despite encouragement from his parents to try other sports, Townsend enjoyed swimming the most, and has stuck with it.

"It was the logical and natural thing for me to do," Townsend said. "Just being in the water for me is just so much fun. When I get into the water, it's the same every time, and I just love it. Water is where I kind of feel is the best place for me to be."

Townsend came from a club team that sent a lot of swimmers overseas to swim, particularly in the American college system. Motivated by previous South African success stories, American college swimming became a huge goal for Townsend in his early teens.

"Just seeing swimmers that went over to the U.S. and did so well at the Olympics and World Champs and in the college system was kind of my motivating factor to get myself over there and be like them," said Townsend.

Transitioning from a South African swimmer to a South African representative training in the U.S. has had its challenges for Townsend. In college, Townsend was united with his American team by group goals as an Arizona Wildcat.

"It was really nice to be a part of a group that had a single goal in mind" said Townsend.

Now training as a post-graduate as part of Tucson Ford, Townsend's goals are no longer shared by a team.

"Since I finished with college there is no longer a group goal we are all heading towards. I was training for something completely different than the college kids."

Another significant transition for Townsend was from a very sprint-oriented and technique based program to one of high volume yardage and intense dryland work.

"When I came to the U.S. my training dramatically increased in the yardage, and also in the gym. I wasn't used to doing two weight sessions a week and dryland on top of that, and like I said, more yardage."

Although the transition was tough initially, Townsend believes that the way he trained in South Africa before moving to the U.S. has allowed him to really excel in the U.S. and have a long and successful career.

"My coach was very big on good technique and that is something that I have carried throughout my career. I have been blessed to have an injury free career up to this point, and I think that has a lot to do with good technique and being taught good technique at a young age."

Being from a sprint-oriented program has also allowed Townsend to build up his volume and intensity throughout his career.

"Right now even when I am 28 years old, I am probably training more now than when I was 18, 19 years old. I think that has a lot to do with the reason why I have had such a long swimming career, because I wasn't doing high yardage as a 13, 14 year old."

Now a sponsored athlete by A3 Performance, Townsend enjoys his life in Tucson.

"I get to train with some of the best swimmers in the world here at the U of A. We have a good, healthy post-grad group as well as a phenomenal college team."

In addition to training, Townsend is also coaching at Tucson Ford.

"I will finish my practice with U of A and then jump out of the water and straight on to the deck for two hours of Ford Practice."

As Townsend has progressed in his swimming career, his level of responsibility has definitely grown.

"There is a responsibility with it, but it's a huge honor," said Townsend. "I'm just grateful for the opportunities that have come my way, and you know it's not easy, especially as a swimmer, to get a sponsor. It's not a sport where you get a lot of face time on television. For a company to want to sponsor an athlete like that, it really says something about that athlete, and, like I said, it's a huge honor."

Still improving in the pool, Townsend recently won the 200 IM at the Arena Grand Prix in Mesa ahead of Ryan Lochte. What can we expect from Townsend moving forward?

"I definitely think Rio 2016 is in the cards. That's the long term goal" said Townsend. "Short term goals, I plan to race in the World Cup series, and race the 200 free more, shooting for that short course world record."

Rio 2016 would be Townsend's fourth Olympic Games. In a sport like swimming, there are bound to be disappointments and frustrations. The reason why Townsend has made it this far is the mindset of "hard work and never give up. Every season has ups and downs. It's learning to persevere through those ups and downs. It's learning to swim when the odds are not really in your favor."

Townsend has been active and extremely competitive in the sport for a long time now. In a sport so demanding, one may wonder how a swimmer stays so motivated and determined, but for Townsend, it's easy.

"I love swimming, I love training, and I love racing people, so I will do that for as long as I can. You only have one swimming career and you are only young once. I am going to try to do it for as long as I can and if I am still successful at it, I am going to keep doing it."

Natural born swimmer

Pietermaritzburg’s Olympic gold medallist is looking to increase his haul in Beijing.

https://witness.co.za/archive/2008/04/24/natural-born-swimmer-20150430/ 

American-based South African Olympic gold medallist Darian Townsend is at a crossroads in his swimming career. His second Olympic Games are a few months away and he has to prove to the world that he is a professional swimmer. It isn’t an easy job. “Unless you’re Michael Phelps, who is the best swimmer in the world, you don’t get publicity,” says Townsend (23). Getting publicity means sponsorship deals, which a professional sportsperson depends on to turn a passion into a career.

We are sitting beside the pool at Townsend’s parents’ house in Montrose in which he took his first strokes as a natural born swimmer. “Coming from a swimming family, I took to the water at 18 months,” he says, smiling at his parents Ted and Rita. They both finished first in their age groups in this year’s Midmar Mile and their daughter Cheryl is on a scholarship swimming in the United States.

Townsend was born on August 28, 1984, in Pinetown and moved with his family to Pietermaritzburg shortly afterwards. He went to Northern Park Primary, Merchiston and then Maritzburg College, getting his matric certificate in 2002. Throughout his school days, though, the one thing that kept him motivated and in high spirits was swimming.

“I joined my mum’s swimming classes in this very pool,” he says. “But my parents soon realised that I needed to start training professionally and so when I was seven I joined the Pietermaritzburg Seals Swimming Club as a club night swimmer.” He then moved on to Wayne Riddin’s swim squad, beginning his career for the Seals.

In 2003, Townsend decided to take a gap year and trained with French coach Fred Vernoux. “I went to France to do further training and then swam for South Africa at the 2003 Barcelona World Championships. It was the first time that the four swimmers who won gold at the Athens Olympics in 2004 [Townsend, Roeland Schoeman, Ryk Neethling and Lyndon Ferns] swam together, which was a great experience.”

He returned to South Africa, where he trained under Graham Hill in Pinetown. “It was a very good experience because I was able to cross train with cycling, which I really enjoyed.” Hill, the coach of Terrence Parkin who won silver at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, encouraged cross training with cycling and so Townsend went about on a bicycle for 60 kilometres a day at the height of his training for Athens 2004. That’s how he found himself tackling the gruelling Amashovashova cycle race from Pietermaritzburg to Durban.

It only hit Townsend when he reached the final of the men’s 4×100 metre freestyle relay with Schoeman, Neethling and Ferns at the Athens Olympics in August 2004 that he was about to be part of something special. “It was such a happy moment for all of us,” he said, his Olympic gold medal slightly worn from all the people who have oozed over it.

“The Olympics came when I was 19, which is very young,” he says. “This had good and bad repercussions.

“The good would be that you can never lose your Olympic gold from your name,” he says. “The bad part of it, however, is that I was still growing and having this medal puts a lot of pressure on you. Everyone who competes against you says, ‘show me what you’ve got that makes you so special’.”

After breaking the world record and getting gold, Townsend began making a name for himself in American waters, but it didn’t start off very easily.

In 2005, Townsend got a full scholarship to Florida University where he began studying sociology. Being away from his family for such a long period was not an easy transition and the first two years were tough. “I didn’t get on with the head coach and I didn’t find his programme very helpful, which showed in races,” he says. “But it took me a while to realise this. At first I thought I wasn’t good enough.”

The coach believed in long-distance swimming training and pushed his swimmers throughout the year without a break. “He used fear as a tactic, which for me just didn’t work.”

But although he was struggling, Townsend wasn’t out of the equation yet. In March 2005 at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), his Florida team won gold and broke the record in their 4×200 metre freestyle relay. “That competition is actually much more difficult than the Olympics,” Townsend says. “One thousand two hundred universities take part and it is hard just qualifying.”

But Townsend was fed up at Florida and when Arizona University head coach Frank Busch offered him a place there in 2006, he was on the first plane out of Florida. “All the four relay guys from Athens were at Arizona, so you can imagine the feeling of being there,” he says. “We could talk and hang out with each other, which I really enjoyed.”

The coaching was also a relief. “They are so much more relaxed there and develop you as a person rather than a swimming machine.”

Townsend said he had never really taken much interest in his diet, but Schoeman influenced him a lot. “He taught me how to cook and, more importantly, how to cook leaving fatty foods out. We eat a lot of pasta and low-fat meats,” he says.

In 2006 Townsend was selected for the South African team to compete at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, but it was the following year in which he truly came into his own as a swimmer. At 22, he got gold in the 200 yard freestyle finals at the NCAA and his relay team broke the record his team at Florida had set the year before, also winning gold. This year he again got gold at the NCAA in the 200 yard individual medley race.

“I have really enjoyed swimming for Arizona,” he says. “I have been able to travel all over the country and see the different cultures in the United States. But, as one of the conditions of my scholarship, I can’t be part of the team next year and have to focus on completing my degree, so I will have to find another team to swim for.”

In his time off, Townsend spends time with his girlfriend Ashley, who is a cheerleader for the Arizona University football team. “We enjoy relaxing together, watching movies, playing pool — you know, the normal stuff,” he says. “But I can’t sit in the house doing nothing all day. I have to get out and do something active at least once a day.”

Townsend has just finished a successful competition in Durban at the South African National Championships, which were also Olympic qualifiers. Townsend qualified in the 200 metre individual medley and in so doing broke the South African record in a time of 2:01,05.

Back in the U.S., Townsend will be returning to a stringent training schedule ahead of the Chinese Olympic Games. He trains four to five hours a day, with a one-and-a-half hour workout in the pool, a dry land workout and another two hours in the pool in the afternoon. “I have a couple of meets in California and Arizona before the Olympics, which will help to improve my times,” he says. “I am currently fifth in the six-man squad for the South African relay team and so need to up my time to make it into the four-man team — we will have a time trial just before the finals in China. Luckily, I’ll be peaking at the right time again.”

Townsend says he can’t wait to be back at the Olympic Village set-up. “Having all the great athletes from around the world in one place at one time is amazing,” he says, “Just walking around the food court is awesome, because you bump into people you once idolised.”

But the Olympics are about more than just doing well for South Africa. Townsend needs to win gold to be recognised by sponsors. “I am expecting to drop a few seconds off my time,” he says. “Swimming is not seen as a glamorous sport and sponsorships don’t come easy.”

Townsend says he will peak as a swimmer in a few years’ time. “Give me a few years and I will be swimming the times,” he says. “Luckily, I have my parents in the background, who are always helping me out financially, because at the moment there is no one else.”

For Townsend, the 2008 Olympics could not have come at a better time. “I love being a swimmer. Some people work hard in the office and I work hard in the pool,” he says. “I love testing my body as a swimmer – it just makes me feel special.”

Darian Townsend Adapts to Life’s New Challenges

Thursday, March 7, 2019

https://www.usaswimming.org/news/2019/03/07/darian-townsend-adapts-to-life-s-new-challenges

During his competitive swimming days, Darian Townsend never shied away from a challenge.

His hard work and dedication resulted in Olympic gold as well as several other international medals for both his birth country, South Africa, and his newly adopted country, the United States.

But even with all of those accolades, nothing prepared him for his current challenge: fatherhood.

“My life outside of the pool has changed dramatically and for the good,” he said. “I got married to my wife, Claire, in April 2017, and we now have a 3-month-old baby girl named Ella. Being a Dad is amazing, but at the same time challenging me in ways I am still getting used to.”

In addition to his new roles as husband and father, Townsend remains involved with the sport he’s loved since he was a young boy to lead the YMCA Westside Silver Fins Swim and Dive Team in Goodyear, Ariz., as the head coach.

He oversees the day-to-day operations of the swim club as well as coaches the elite swimmers.

He said while his time since retiring from professional swimming in early 2017 has been good, it’s taken him a while to get used to not always being in the mindset of a competitive swimmer.

“I find myself still thinking about when my next practice is and having my body ready for that practice,” he said. “When you've done something for 28 years, I guess it's hard to change the way you think.”

Townsend said his decision to retire was based on several things. For one, he had reached the point where he was tired all the time and needed a long break from the day-to-day schedule he had been following for years.

Finances were also a big part of his decision, as he and Claire wanted to buy a house and start a family so getting a full-time job was a necessity.

And then, with that full-time job, training as much as he would need to remain competitive at the highest level became tough, so something ultimately had to give – but he hasn’t given up swimming altogether.

“I am still competing on the Masters circuit, although not as much as I'd like,” he said. “Swimming is still my favorite form of exercise, and I try to get in the water as often as possible. I feel staying in touch with the water keeps me more in touch with the sport and helps me to be a better coach for my swimmers.”

Townsend’s introduction to swimming came from both of his parents having been swimmers growing up. They both still compete in open water events in South Africa and love the sport – so it was inevitable that he would also love the sport growing up around a swimming pool and joining his first club at age 7.

For him, swimming was the one sport where he felt he had total control of himself. He enjoyed playing team sports, but when he was swimming, he said he felt he could control his destiny.

It was that feeling that kept him coming back to the pool every day.

“When I got a little older, I realized what I could do with the sport,” he said. “I realized I could travel, get an education, make money and meet friends, and so I became obsessed with becoming the best swimmer I could.

“There were times when I took the sport maybe too seriously, but I was lucky to have a family that helped me through those times and kept me grounded.”

His first real memories of the Olympics were the 1996 Atlanta Games when he watched on TV from South Africa and was amazed at how fast the swimmers were.

Darian Townsend named head coach &CEO of Phoenix Swim Club

September 14th, 2021

https://swimswam.com/darian-townsend-named-new-head-coach-ceo-of-phoenix-swim-club/ 

Olympic gold medalist Darian Townsend has been named the new head coach and CEO of the Phoenix Swim Club, the team announced Tuesday.

Townsend, who will assume his new role on October 4, previously served as the head coach and president of the Westside Silver Fins since 2017, and was also named an assistant coach at Ottawa University in Surprise, Arizona (OUAZ) in November 2019.

In September 2020, he was promoted to head coach at OUAZ, keeping his role with the Silver Fins at the same time.

In April, Garrett McCaffrey stepped down as head coach of Phoenix Swim Club after nearly a decade with the team. McCaffrey went on to join Seattle U as an assistant coach.

Townsend represented South Africa at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, swimming the third leg on the gold medal-winning men’s 4×100 freestyle relay team that broke the world record in a time of 3:13.17. The quartet also included Roland Schoeman, Lyndon Ferns and Ryk Neethling.

Townsend would go on to swim for South Africa at the Olympic Games in 2008 and 2012 as well, and also broke the world record in the short course meter 200 IM in 2009 (1:51.55).

After earning U.S. citizenship in 2014, Townsend represented the United States at multiple international meets, including the 2014 SC World Championships and the 2015 Pan American Games, winning a pair of relay medals in the latter.

Also the owner of several Masters world records, the now-37-year-old won one gold and three silver medals at the 2017 Masters World Championships in Budapest, Hungary.

As a collegiate swimmer, Townsend swam at both the University of Florida and the University of Arizona, winning a total of two individual and five relay NCAA titles, plus one team championship with the Wildcats in 2008.

The KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa native graduated from the University of Arizona in 2010 with a bachelors in Sociology.

Lyndon matriculated at Hoërskool Pietersburg in 2001, before winning a scholarship to swim at the University of Arizona. 

He capped his collegiate swimming career in 2006 by finishing as the NCAA Champion in the 100 butterfly - his first individual national title - and was a part of the 400 freestyle, 400 medley, and 800 freestyle NCAA Championship relay teams to help the Wildcats to a second-place finish at the NCAA Championships.

Along with fellow Arizona alumni Roland Schoeman, Ryk Neethling, and Darian Townsend, Lyndon provided one of the indelible moments of the 2004 Athens Olympic Games as the quartet won the Gold Medal in the 400-meter freestyle relay in a world record time of 3:13.17.

2006 Commonwealth Games - 4 × 100 m freestyle relay - Roland Schoeman (48.65); Lyndon Ferns (48.43); Gerhard Zandberg (49.44); Ryk Neethling (48.45)

University of Arizona

Lyndon Ferns Biography

2004-05 Season: Seven-time first-team All-American... Responsible for five top-five season best times and three top-three all-time best performances ... At the NCAA Championships, finished third in the 100 freestyle (42.34), which was also a new school record... Was third in the 100 butterfly (46.33) and fourth in the 50 freestyle (19.30)... Also contributed to four of the five top-three relays at the national championships... At the Pac-10 Championships, finished second in the 100 butterfly (46.30)... Won the 50 freestyle against ASU (20.22) and swam the first leg of the first-place 200 free relay... Against SMU Texas won in the 100 freestyle (43.87)... Also won the 50 freestyle (20.02) and the 100 butterfly while finishing second in the 200 freestyle (1:37.73)... Posted the only first-place finishes in the meet against Stanford, dominating the 50 freestyle (20.08) and the 100 freestyle (44.27)... Against Cal, won both the 50 freestyle (20.18) and the 100 freestyle (44.29)... Won the 200 freestyle (1:38.68) and the 100 butterfly (48.41) against Northwestern and Washington... Also, took second place in the 50 freestyle (20.13) as well as the 100 freestyle (44.63)... Finished first in the 100 freestyle (45.12) against British Colombia... At the Texas Invitational, Won the 100 butterfly (46.04) as well as the 200 freestyle while finishing second in the 50 freestyle (19.52)... Against USC, won the 100 freestyle (43.59) and the 50 freestyle (20.05)... Also was second in the 200 freestyle (1:36.93)... Against Wisconsin, took first place in two events including the 50 freestyle (20.28) and the 100 butterfly (48.10).

 2003-04 Season: First team All-American in the 200 and 800-meter  free relay, the 50 and 100 freestyle, and the 100 fly...Finished sixth in the 50-meter freestyle (21.73) at the 2004 NCAA Championships...Was second in the 50 free (19.62) at the 2004 Pac-10 Championships...Swam the first leg of the second-place 400 free relay... Finished fourth in the 100 freestyle...Conquered the freestyle events against ASU as he won the 200-meter (1:49.73), the 50-meter (22:49) and the 100-meter (49.59) freestyle races...Won the 200 freestyle (1:39.22) against Texas along with the 50 freestyle...Posted two first-place victories in the 50 freestyle (20.17) and the 100 freestyle (44.20) against Stanford...Finished second in the 200 butterfly against Purdue and Missouri (1:53.68)... Broke two records at the 2003 Texas Invitational: first in the 100 freestyle (42.40)...  Won the 100-meter freestyle (48.99), which broke the South African record held by former Wildcat Ryk Neesling...Also at the Texas Invitational, won the 50-meter freestyle (22.32) and the 100-meter butterfly (46.71) ...Against USC, won both the 50-meter (LC) freestyle (23.36) as well as the 100 freestyle (51.20)... Led the Wildcats to a victory over Wisconsin by winning three events: the 200 freestyle, 50 freestyle, and 100 freestyle.

 2002-03 Season:  Earned All-America honors in five different events... At the 2003 NCAA Championships, was 11th in the 100 freestyle (43.68) and 14th in the 50 free (19.99)... Was also part of the third-place 400 free relay, fourth-place 200 free relay, and the 10th-place 800 free relay... At 2003 Pac-10 Championships, finished seventh in the 100 free (44.05), 10th in the 100 fly (48.00), and 16th in the 50 free... Also helped the 400 free relay to a third-place finish at Pac-10s... Garnered seven top-five finishes during the season’s dual meet action... Won both the 50 and 100 free against Arizona State... Was first in the 50 free and second in the 200 free against California... Took first place in the 50 free, 100 free and 100 fly against Stanford.

 National & International Competition ?- 2004- Competed in the Olympic games for South Africa where he was part of the gold medal 400 free relay team (3:13.17) along with University of Arizona alumni Ryk Neethling and Roland Schoeman... 2003:  Member of the South Africa National Team... Part of a 400m free relay that set a new African record... 2002:  Member of the South Africa National Team... Finished seventh in the 100m fly at the World Cup in Sweden... Was second at the Commonwealth Games... Member of a 400m free relay that finished eighth at the World Championships while setting a new African record... African senior champion in the 100m free and was third in the 100m fly.

 Prep: Graduate of Pietersburg High School in Pietersburg, South Africa... Two-year team captain... Team MVP from 1997-2001... Set school records in six different events... Set a national record in the 100m fly (55.05)... Also participated in rugby and track and field... Was the rugby team captain in 1997 and 2000... Competed for the Pietersburg Swimming Club... Club team captain from 1999-2002... Team Swimmer of the Year from 1995-2002... 2002 national champion in the 100m fly...2002 Africa senior champion in the 100m free.

Personal: Born Lyndon Ferns on Sept. 24, 1983, in Pietersburg, South Africa... Son of Frank and Linda Hislop... Has an older brother, Gordon, and a twin sister, Liezel... Majoring in business with an interest in becoming an accountant.

Lyndon het in 2001 as onderhoofseun aan die Hoërskool Pietersburg gematrikuleer.

Sy prestasies, lewensbeskouing en nederigheid dien as ‘n uitnemende voorbeeld vir oud en jonk, wat sy loopbaan met arendsoë en groot verwagting volg.

Hiermee word erkenning gegee aan een van Suid-Afrika se jong helde, in die uiters kompeterende en veeleisende sport van swem op nasionale en internasionale vlak.

Reeds op 18-jarige ouderdom behaal hy nasionale en internasionale sukses, onderskeidelik met sy verowering van die SA-senior titel in die 100m vlinderslag en die wen van ‘n silwermedalje in die 4 x 100m vryslag aflos by die Statebondspele in Manchester, Engeland.

In Desember 2003 word hy die eerste man in Afrika en die tweede jongste swemmer ooit in wêreldgeskiedenis toe hy die SA-en Afrikarekord in die 100m vryslag verbeter het, in ‘n tyd van onder 49 sekondes. Die “All American Honours”, wat toegeken word aan die 8 beste swemmers in die VSA, val Lyndon te beurt vir vier agtereenvolgende jare – vanaf 2003 – 2006.

Olimpiese roem realiseer in Augustus 2004 met die Olimpiese Spele in Athene, Griekeland, met die verowering van ‘n goue medalje en die verbetering van die wêreldrekord in 4x100m vryslag aflos. By die Statebondspele in Maart 2006 in Australië, is Lyndon weer deel van die SA-span wat goud verower in die 4x100m vryslag aflos.

In Julie 2006 en later weer in Desember verbeter Lyndon die SA- en Afrikarekord in die 100m vlinderslag. Met sy vierde plek by die Wêreldkampioenskappe in Maart 2007, verbeter Lyndon weer sy eie rekord. Met die prestasie word hy die eerste man in Afrika en die elfde man ooit in die geskiedenis, om die 100m vlinderslag onder 52 sekondes af te lê.

In April 2008 kwalifiseer Lyndon vir sy tweede Olimpiese Spele deur die 100m vlinderslag en 100m vryslag by die SA-proewe te wen. Hy is ook die enigste atleet in SA om A – kwalifiserende tye vir die Olimpiese Spele in Beijing te behaal in drie individuele items: die 50m vryslag, die 100m vryslag en die 100m vlinderslag. Hy is ook deel van die 4x100m vryslag aflos en 4x100m wisselslag aflos by die Spele.

Lyndon is tans die Afrika-rekordhouer in die 100m vlinderslag, die 4x100m vryslag-aflos, die 4x100m wisselslag aflos en die 4x50m vryslag aflos.

Met hierdie oorkonde word erkenning gegee aan Lyndon Ferns se uitnemende sportprestasies en dien dit ook as inspirasie om hom te motiveer tot ‘n lang en suksesvolle loopbaan en lewe.

Oorkonde toegeken deur die ouergemeenskap, personeel en leerlinge van die Hoërskool Pietersburg tydens ‘n seremonie gehou op 29 Augustus 2008.

LYNDON FERNS WEDS CARA BURGER IN BEAUTIFUL PRETORIA CEREMONY

September 18th, 2011

https://swimswam.com/in-briefs-lyndon-ferns-weds-cara-burger-in-south-africa/

South African Olympic gold medalist Lyndon Ferns has gone through plenty of change this year. In April, he officially retired from swimming, and in his transition to civilian life he’s received many honor. This includes when in June when he had a pool at his old high school dedicated in his honor.

He turned another chapter in his life yesterday when he wed model Cara Burger in Pretoria, South Africa on Saturday. Burger was a 2008 finalist for Miss South Africa and is currently a model (as should be obvious from the shots below).

HTS Tom Naude

19 Augustus 2019 - Lyndon Ferns, het die skool in Pietersburg besoek om swemmers te inspireer. Sy prestasie tydens die 2004 Olimpiese spele in Athene waar hy deel van die 4x100m aflosspan was, wat nie net goud gewen het nie, maar ook n nuwe wêreldrekord opgestel het, is onder luide toejuiging van die leerders op die groot skerm vertoon.

https://www.facebook.com/HTSTOMNAUDE/posts/lyndon-ferns-het-skool-besoek-om-swemmers-te-inspireer-sy-prestasie-tydens-die-2/2207265439384786/?locale=hi_IN 

A defining moment in the lives of these four men. The South African squad of Roland Schoeman (split 48:38), Lyndon Ferns (48:34), Darian Townsend (49:13) and Ryk Neethling(47:99) - clocked 3 minutes and 13.17 seconds to triumph over the Netherlands (2nd) and the US team (3rd).

An unhappy looking Michael Phleps had to settle for the bronze.

Born in Bloemfontein, he attended Grey College, where he excelled in swimming under coach Simon Gray at the Seals SC. In 1994 Ryk broke the 1500m freestyle South African record by ten seconds - set by his coach Simon Gray in March 1976. He won the 400 and 1500m freestyle events at the 1995 SA swimming championships. 

Despite not making the Olympic qualifying time for the 1500 at the 1996 South African Olympic trials, Ryk was selected on the strength of his swim at the 1995 Pan Pacific championships, which was under the qualifying time. At the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, he came fifth in the 1500 m freestyle.

Immediately following the Games he was enrolled at The University of Arizona. His record of achievements at Arizona includes being the 9 times NCAA National Champion, Arizona Athlete of the Year, and PAC-10 Athlete of the Year for four consecutive years, 1999 NCAA Swimmer of the Year, and the University of Arizona Athlete of the Century award.

He continued his international career at the 1998 Commonwealth Games, winning the silver medal in the 1500 m freestyle, but only managing fifth at the 1998 World Aquatics Championships. In 1999 he had a much better Pan Pacific Championships winning silver in the 1500 m freestyle, and bronze in the 400 m and 200 m freestyle. After achieving a disappointing 5th in the 1500 m freestyle event and 8th in the 400 m freestyle at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney he elected to discontinue competing in the 1500 m event, concentrating instead on the 50 m and 100 m freestyle events.

At the 2002 Commonwealth Games, he won a bronze medal in the 100 m freestyle and came 4th in the 50 m freestyle events. At the 2006 Commonwealth Games, he won silver in the 100 m freestyle and was part of the S.A. gold medal-winning 4×100 m freestyle relay team.

He held the South African record in the 200 m, 400 m, 800 m, and 1500 m freestyle events, and the 4×100 m freestyle relay world record.

The highlight of his career thus far has been winning a gold medal in the 4×100 m freestyle relay at the 2004 Summer Olympics. He also placed 4th in the individual 100 m freestyle.

In November 2005, he announced that he had refused a multimillion-dollar offer by Qatar's Olympic body to switch nationalities and swim for Qatar at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

At the 2008 Summer Olympics, he become the first South African to participate in four successive Olympic Games.

Today he is a shareholder and marketing director of Val de Vie Estate in Franschhoek.

He was named CEO of the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation which focuses on raising awareness around water safety.

 By the time Ryk Neethling finished his college swimming career, he was a nine-time NCAA individual champion, a four-time Pac-10 Conference Swimmer of the Year, a seven-time Pac-10 Conference individual champion, a 17-time All-American, the 1998-1999 NCAA Division 1 Swimmer of the Year, and an Olympian. At the time of his induction, Ryk held the South African record in five different events and ranked in the top ten in the world in the 50, 100, and 200 Freestyle and Individual Medleys.  

Ryk’s nine career individual NCAA titles were the most by any student-athlete in the 100-plus-year history of Arizona Wildcat Athletics. The nine titles also tied for the third-best overall in the 81-year history of NCAA men’s swimming and Ryk became only the eighth man in NCAA swimming history to win three back-to-back national championships. Amazingly, all 17 of Ryk’s All-America selections are of the first-team variety, meaning he finished in the top-8 of every race that he entered during his four years.

Ryk has held over 20 junior national records and 22 South African National titles. He has represented South Africa and medalled in three Commonwealth Games, the most in South African history. He has also been a five-time finalist in the Olympics and the World Championships. 

Ryk Neethling / Marketing Director and Shareholder of the Val de Vie Group of Companies

Ryk Neethling has played an instrumental role since his appointment in 2009 as the Marketing Director & Shareholder of the Val de Vie Group of Companies. Ryk’s business career started while he spent time in the real estate industry in the USA, assisting in the development, management and sales of various commercial properties in Arizona and California. This experience equipped him in establishing Cape Winelands Properties, the official on-site property agency for Val de Vie Estate, with his business partners. His strategic approach to implementing brand and marketing plans is evident in the numerous successfully sold-out developments of the Val de Vie Group of Companies. Under Ryk’s leadership, theVal de Vie brand has internationally been positioned as pioneering in the world of luxury property development. Ryk holds a BA degree in Psychology and Business from the University of Arizona. He is a Laureus Sport for Good Foundation Ambassador, founder of Learn to Swim Academies, three-time World Champion and an Olympic Gold Medalist.

Val de Vie Estate is proud to host the Ryk Neethling Swimming School.

As a four-time Olympian I understand that swimming techniques and philosophies are always changing. At Ryk Neethling™ Swimming Stars™, parents can feel assured that every swimming instructor will stay at the forefront with regards to technique, teaching philosophies and international best practice Learn to Swim principles and evaluations.

A defining moment in the lives of these four men. The South African squad of Roland Schoeman (split 48:38), Lyndon Ferns (48:34), Darian Townsend (49:13) and Ryk Neethling(47:99) - clocked 3 minutes and 13.17 seconds to triumph over the Netherlands (2nd) and the US team (3rd).

Born in Pretoria on 7th March 1980, Roland first took an interest in the sport when he was 13 and began to compete three years later. He matriculated at the Willow Ridge School, where he swam under coach Gavin Ross, and then won a scholarship to the University of Arizona. Before moving overseas Roland competed at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, where he finished 6th in both the 50m and 100m freestyle events.  

In the 2000 NCAA Men's Swimming and Diving Championships in Minnesota, Arizona sophomore Roland Schoeman tied the world record in the 50-meter (short-course) freestyle. Schoeman's preliminary time of 21.31 matched Mark Foster's (Great Britain) 1998 mark.

This marked the beginning of a career that would span 4 Olympic Games from Sydney 2000 - to London 2012.

At the Athens Games, he won gold in the relay, silver in the 100m freestyle, and bronze in the 50m freestyle. He also won three gold, a silver, and a bronze FINA World Championship medals, as well as four gold, three silvers, and three bronzes at the Commonwealth Games. He set new South African records in the 100 m Freestyle (48.69 s), 50 m Freestyle (22.04 s), 100 m Butterfly (52.73 s) and 50 m Butterfly (23.65 s) events.

He won a gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens in the 4 × 100 m freestyle, a silver medal in the 100 m freestyle event, and a bronze in the 50 m freestyle. Three of the Men's 100-metre Freestyle team were in the team that broke the record and won gold at the 2006 Commonwealth Games. He also claimed golds in the 100m freestyle and 100m butterfly.

Schoeman, who is asthmatic, was voted the African Swimmer of the Year by Swimming World in 2004, 2005 and 2006; and the South African Swimmer of the Year in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006. He was elected South African Sports Star of the Year in 2004 In 2007, he received the South African Presidential Award Order of Ikhamanga in Silver, awarded for excellent achievements in the field of swimming.

At the 2005 FINA World Aquatics Championships in Montreal, Canada he won two gold medals [50 m Butterfly (in a world record time of 22.96 s) and Freestyle (21.69 s, the second fastest time in history at the time). He also claimed a silver in 100 m freestyle.

In December 2005, Schoeman turned down a 40 Million Rand (US$5.9 million) contract to swim for Qatar. He stated reasons of national pride for turning down the offer and that hearing the South African national anthem and sharing the joy of his victories with his fellow South Africans is what made winning gold special.

On 12 August 2006, Schoeman broke the short course world record for 50 metres freestyle and became the first man to swim the distance under 21 seconds, with a time of 20.98 seconds. Schoeman lowered the previous mark by 0.12 seconds held for the last two years by Frédérick Bousquet of France. Schoeman was swimming in a specially built 25-metre pool at an invitational meeting in a Hamburg tennis stadium.

At the 2007 FINA World Aquatics Championships in Melbourne Australia, he successfully defended his 50m butterfly title. He also made the final of the 50 m and 100 m freestyle and was part of the 4×100 m freestyle relay team that finished fourth. On 6 September 2008, Roland Schoeman set a new short course meters world record of 20.64 at South African Nationals. Schoeman lost his world record in late 2008 but regained his record.

At the Short Course World Record at South Africa Championships, Schoeman swam a 20.30 seconds of the 50-meter freestyle short course (25 m pool).

In the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Schoeman, aged 32, advanced to the final in the Men's 50m freestyle, clocking a 21.80 to finish .46 seconds behind the gold medal winner, Florent Manaudou. Schoeman wanted to swim at the 2016 Olympic Games but withdrew in April 2016.

In 2017 he partnered with Athletes USA to facilitate the granting of athletic scholarships to American Universities. Roland continues to swim. In June 2018 he competed in the 1 Mile Flowers Sea Swim at the Cayman Islands, finishing with a time of 24:05.

In 2007 Roland was inducted into the University of Arizona Hall of Fame:

In an incredible career at Arizona, this superb swimmer from South Africa won the 2002 NCAA Championship in the 50-meter freestyle, as well as overall runner-up finishes and multiple All-American distinctions. He won the men's 50-meter butterfly at the World Championships in 2005 and 2006. Roland's accomplishments post college are incredible. He has broken seven swimming world records and at the time of his induction, held three world records. Roland is the first person ever to record time of less than 21 seconds in the 50 meter freestyle and he is the only South African to win three medals at a single Olympic Games. Roland helped South Africa win one of the biggest upset in history-beating the United States in the 400 meter freestyle relay at the 2004 Olympics

Roland Schoeman - University of Arizona biography

SOPHOMORE (1999-2000): Set the World Record in the 50 free short-course meters during trials at the 2000 NCAA Championships with a time of 21:31... Earned seven first-team All-America honors at the 2000 NCAA Championships in the 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle, 100m butterfly, 200m freestyle relay, 400m freestyle relay, 200m medley relay and the 400m medley relay... Placed second in the 50m freestyle (21.22), the 100m freestyle (47.51) and the 200m medley relay (1:35.87), third in the 100m butterfly (52.14), the 200m freestyle relay (1:26.74) and the 400m freestyle relay (3:13.18) and seventh in the 400m medley relay (3:35.48)... At the 2000 Pacific-10 Championships, finished third in the 100y butterfly (48.01), third in the 100y freestyle (43.44) and fourth in the 50y freestyle (19.68).. Presently holds the Arizona school record in the 50m freestyle (21.22), the 100m freestyle (47.51) and the 100m butterfly (52.14)... A member of the four record-breaking Arizona relay teams, the 200m medley relay (1:35.87), the 400m medley relay (3:33.61), the 200m freestyle relay (1:26.86) and the 400m freestyle relay (3:13.18)... Competed in the 50m free at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia representing South Africa.

FRESHMAN (1998-99): Burst onto the collegiate swimming scene with a bang, as he earned All-America honors in six separate events, the best for a Wildcat swimmer that season... Set school records in every event that he competed (50 freestyle, 100 freestyle, 200 freestyle relay, 400 freestyle relay, 200 medley relay and 400 medley relay)... Part of six of the nine school records that were set at the 1999 NCAA Championships, (two individual and four relay)... Finished second overall in the finals of the 100 free in a time of 42.88... Time was a school record, eclipsing Seth Pepper's 1993 mark of 43.39... Also finished third in the finals of the 50 free (19.49), setting a school record, bettering Mike McQuitty's 1993 mark of 19.67... Swam the lead-off leg of the 200 free relay that finished fourth in a time of 1:18.36... Also swam lead off for the third-place 400 free relay squad that finished with a time of 2:53.87... Swam the third leg (butterfly) for the 200 medley relay team (third-place - 1:26.52)... Final All-America nod came as he swam the third leg (butterfly) for the 400-medley relay squad that finished sixth in a time of 3:12.04... At the 1999 Pac-10 Championships finished third in the finals of the 100 free (43.56), fourth in the 50 free (19.96) and sixth in the finals of the 100 fly (48.44)... Clocked the top Arizona times of the year in the 50 free (19.49), 100 free (42.88) and 100 fly (47.65)... At the 1999 Senior Nationals in Minneapolis, Minn., Schoeman registered the fastest 50-meter free time in the world during 1999 and the fourth-fastest mark in history, with a time of 22.04... Also at nationals, clocked a time of 49.98 in the 100m free and 55.01 in the 100m fly.

YEAR-BY-YEAR (1998): At the 1998 South African Senior Nationals, finished third in the 50 free (22.04) and also claimed the bronze in the 100 free, finishing in a time of 51.61... At 1998 South African Short Course Nationals, placed second in the 50 free (22.50), 100 free (49.04) and 100 fly (54.83)... At the 1998 Commonwealth Games, placed sixth in the 50 free (23.11), sixth in the 100 free (50.30) and 10th in the 100 fly (56.72)... At the 1998 All-Africa Swimming Championships, won the title in the 50 free (23.03) and placed second in both the 100 free (52.01) and the 100 fly (57.02)...1997: At the South African Senior Nationals, placed seventh in the 50m free (24.41)... At the 1997 South African Short Course Nationals, finished first in the 100 free (50.69) and second in the 50 free (23.41)... At the 1997 Taiwan Age Group Championships finished first in the 50 free (24.00) and also claimed first place in the 100 free (53.75).

HIGH SCHOOL: Swam for Coach Gavin Ross at Willowridge High School in Pretoria, South Africa... Team captain for high school during 1997 and 1998 seasons... Set the South African long course records in the 50m free (22.04), 100m free (49.98) and the 50m fly (24.81)... Holds the African continental records (long course) in the 50m free (22.04), 100m free (49.98) and the 50m fly (24.81)... Holds the Commonwealth Games record in the 50m free, (long course) with a time of 22.04... Holds the South African and African records (short course) in the 50m free (22.50) and 100m free (49.04)... At the 1997 South African high school championships, finished first in the 50m free and placed second in the 100m free... At the 1998 state championships, placed first in the 50m free (23.65), first in the 100m free (54.41), and first in the 100m fly (59.59)... At the 1998 South African high school championships, finished first in the 50m free (23.65), first in the 100m free (55.21) and first in the 50m butterfly (25.61)... Owner of state records in the 50m free (22.04), 100m free (49.98), 50m fly (24.81) and 100m fly (55.01)... Holds the South African age group records in the 15-16 year olds (50m free, 22.50; 100m free, 53.75; and 50m fly, 26.00) and 17-18 year olds (50m free, 23.03; 100m free, 50.30; 50m fly, 25.65; and 100 fly, 56.45).

PERSONAL: Roland Mark Schoeman... Born 07/03/80 in Pretoria, South Africa... Currently pursuing a double major in psychology and communication at UA, with aspirations of becoming a sports psychologist...... Son of Geraldine and the late Roland Schoeman... Mother is an environmental psychologist, and father was a doctor... Mother is a graduate of the University of Pretoria, and father is a graduate of the University of Witwatersand... Sister competes in high school horseback riding... Participated in theatre during high school... Voted outstanding sportsman of his high school... Voted South Africa's most improved swimmer in 1997-98... Lists hobbies as all athletics, especially rugby, cricket and field hockey, as well as watching movies, traveling and camping.

Lyndon Ferns Ryk Neethling Roland Schoeman and Darian Townsend in Melbourne for the 2007 Swimming World Cup

https://mg.co.za/article/2014-08-21-the-return-of-the-awesome-foursome/ 

21 August 2014

Last Friday was the 10th anniversary of the 4x100m freestyle relay team’s win in the Athens Olympic pool, one of the most remarkable achievements in the history of South African sport. For Ryk Neethling, the day passed largely uneventfully but, at about 8 pm, finding himself alone in his Franschhoek home, memories began to flood the room.

After an hour of meditation and goosebumps, reliving that balmy Sunday night in Greece, he texted Roland Schoeman. It was at exactly this time 10 years ago that the men had stormed not only to the gold medal but also the world record, beating the Netherlands and the United States into second and third place respectively. His text said simply: “Jy’s ‘n yster nou en was een in die verlede – Ryk,” which, roughly translated, means: “You’re the man now and you were the man back then.”

It is one of the open secrets of South African sport that Neethling and Schoeman were never bosom buddies. They didn’t see eye to eye on Dirk Lange, the martinet German swimming coach and Schoeman’s mentor, and, if there was a disagreement to be had, Neethling and Schoeman would unerringly find it.

With time there has been a general softening. Neethling sought out Schoeman in Glasgow at the Commonwealth Games recently and the Cold War has transformed itself into something closer to a careful truce. There are moments of unease for both parties but listening to Neethling, a man who is far more emotional than one suspects he likes to appear, suggests he’s happy just to be heard.

It says much for the two that they were able to put aside their itch all those years ago and hunt for gold. At the World Championships in Barcelona in 2003, the same South African team finished eighth in the same event. They swam then in a different order but the experience in Catalonia confirmed that the team had reached the proverbial bend in the river.

‘No more complaining’
“We were the only team other than the winners to go into a huddle after that race,” said Neethling this week. “We said after that that there was to be no more complaining. No complaining about Swimming SA, about our swimsuits, about whatever we could find to complain about. And there were to be no excuses, no excuses about anything.”

In the months preceding Athens, Neethling was kept afloat by $250 a month from four generous Tucson benefactors. He was studying at the University of Arizona and to say that there was no small change in his wallet is an understatement. His teammates were in similar positions of hardship, but they continued to train, to plot, to scheme; they would wake each other up with middle-of-the-night text messages from halfway across the world. There was a feeling of camaraderie, brotherhood and the tightening of expectation.

They were inadvertently helped three days before the final when the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee threatened to send the uppity four home. If their collective anger towards the authorities had blunted since Barcelona, it was now as sharp as ever. “We sort of said, ‘Let’s use this to fuel us’; we talked about it. That kind of mind-set isn’t sustainable, we knew that. In the short term, it powered us,” said Neethling.

When it came to the final, Schoeman swam the first leg in the fourth fastest time ever recorded. Despite Michael Phelps swimming for the USA and Pieter van den Hoogenband swimming for the Netherlands, Schoeman’s trailblazing opening set the South Africans up nicely. They led from start to finish and the victory defined their lives.

Best of all, after going their respective ways, there are signs afoot that the “Awesome Foursome” is coming back together, quietly testing the water in ways that would have been inconceivable five years ago.

Roland Schoeman Launches Comeback at SA National Championships

https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/roland-schoeman-launches-comeback-at-sa-national-championships/ 

10 April 2023

Roland Schoeman is returning to elite-level international swimming, the 42-year-old sprinter taking part in the SA National Championships this week in Gqeberha, South Africa.

Schoeman has not competed at this level since 2016, when he fell short of qualifying for a fifth Olympics. He tested positive for a banned substance in 2019, and only in the fall of 2022 was his case resolved as an unintentional doping positive after adjudication by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Since, Schoeman has returned to masters meets in the United States – he remains based in Arizona, where he attended college and trained after graduation – but nationals is another step forward for the three-time Olympic gold medalist.

Schoeman was part of the legendary South African 400 free relay that won gold in Athens in 2004, the year that he added silver in the 100 free and bronze in the 50. He’s won three gold medals at the World Championships and four at the Commonwealth Games. He’s entered in the 50 free, 100 free and 50 butterfly at the meet, which serves as a qualifier for the 2023 World Aquatic Championships in Fukuoka, Japan.

April 13th, 2024

The final day of the 2024 South African National Championships unfolded from Port Elizabeth with 19-year-old Pieter Coetze capturing a fifth gold to conclude his campaign.

After capturing golds across the 50m/100m/200m back and 100m free, Coetze concluded by taking the meet title in the 50m free. The teen touched in 22.45 followed by Clayton Jimmie who hit 22.83 as the silver medalist.

Guy Brooks rounded out the podium in 23.00 while 43-year-old Roland Schoeman finished 4th in 23.07.

On the 23rd of July 2001, at the FINA World Championships held in Fukuoka, Japan, Roland tied for third place in the 50m freestyle, winning a bronze medal. I found out yesterday that in 2001 at the World Championships in Fukuoka, I became the first South African man to win a world championship medal. Grateful to have won a few more world championship medals after that and helped pave the way for the younger crop after me.

Two Decades After First Fukuoka Worlds, Roland Schoeman Still ‘Smelling the Roses’

02 August 2023

https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/two-decades-after-first-fukuoka-worlds-roland-schoeman-still-smelling-the-roses/ 

Roland Schoeman wasn’t yet 21, but his veteran coach knew an adjustment was in order.

It was 2001, and the promising South African sprinter had shifted for a summer to train with coach Mike Bottom and his fellow sprint star Anthony Ervin. Beyond the sets and the hard work in the pool, Schoeman got one piece of information from Bottom that 22 years later continues to resonate. 

“One thing that Mike said was, ‘smell the roses,’” Schoeman said. “I’d been very, very serious in my life for a huge amount of time, and that was really the first opportunity that I had to kind of enjoy the moment, enjoy the experience.”

That experience was a FINA World Championships in Fukuoka. More than two decades later, just past his 43rd birthday, Schoeman was back in Japan, still swimming, still enjoying the journey, still smelling those roses.

Schoeman was the oldest participant in the 2023 World Aquatics Championships, less than a year after he decided to return to swimming. (Born in 1980, he was one of only 10 swimmers at Worlds born in that decade and three years older than the next oldest participant, 39-year-old Marc Dansou of Benin.)

Still based in Arizona, where he attended college in Tucson, and an American citizen, Schoeman felt short in his bid to qualify for a fifth Olympics in 2016. He was banned for a doping violation in July of 2019, though he’s since been exonerated of that for proof of a contaminated substance, a multiyear order that required appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Once that was resolved, Schoeman returned to Masters Swimming and found he was having fun and still moving quite well. So he got to wondering …

“By virtue of the fact that I was swimming better and better and better and going times that I hadn’t gone in a significant amount of time, it was really based on that,” he said. “We were like, why don’t I go swim trials? If I qualify, I qualify. If I don’t qualify, I don’t qualify. It was purely based on that. As we trained and got faster and faster, the idea of being able to come and be here was more and more at the forefront of my belief and what I wanted.”

Schoeman’s improvement earned him another Worlds, swimming the 50 free in Fukuoka. He was slightly quicker than his seed time, going 22.87 to tie for 50th place. It’s a far cry from his best of 21.67, set first at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and matched five years later at Worlds in Barcelona. He’s still chasing the 22.18 that got him bronze in Fukuoka 22 years ago and the 22.02 that earned bronze at the Athens Olympics. But his Fukuoka swim is more than a starting point.

He hadn’t planned on returning to elite competition when he got back into the pool, just as a way to exercise. But when the comeback became something he wanted, he drew upon his extensive network of friends for advice. Brent Hayden, who made a similar comeback to reach the Tokyo Olympics in his late 30s, is a close friend and advisor. Schoeman also picked the brain of Dara Torres, who made comebacks an art well into her 40s.

The three-time Olympic medalist and former World Record holder in the 50 butterfly has dipped into the lessons of his past. His standout memory from the Fukuoka Words in 2001 was getting silly to lighten the mood before events, coming out in a gi before one event and mugging for the cameras. He’s utilizing the same in-the-moment joy now, relishing being pushed by the competitive environment of major meets.

“Having trained on my own as long as I have, it’s difficult when you stand up and you’re doing your own thing,” Schoeman said. “You don’t have a benchmark. It’s just a different atmosphere, a different vibe, a different energy. So to be in a position once again to be able to be up on the blocks, race against others but also continue to evolve and grow and learn more about myself, it’s just this duality which is really, really cool.”

Roland Schoeman is striving for the Paris Games. He envisions training trips abroad, perhaps in Australia, to incorporate new elements to his repertoire. He’s got the Olympic A cut in the 50 (21.96 seconds) circled.

In Fukuoka, he was particularly excited about the chance to bridge the gap between South African swimming eras, including on a youthful mixed 400 free relay Saturday, even for a program whose big names on the men’s side largely stayed home this summer.

Schoeman thinks he can contribute among them, and he’s eager to see where the next year takes him.

“Today, being able to be a part of the relay, that’s really special, because I never had this opportunity with these kids on the team,” he said. “That’s a really great experience.”