Hendrik Odendaal
Hendrik grew up in Stellenbosch where matriculated at Paul Roos Gymnasium in 1998 and swam for the University of Stellenbosch Club Team coached by Pierre de Roubaix. His career swimming highlight was winning a silver medal at the 2002 Commonwealth Games as part of the South African 4 x 100 freestyle relay.
At the 2000 U.S. Open Swimming Championships Hendrik finished fifth in the finals of the 50-meter freestyle, touching the wall in 23.79.
He took up a scholarship at the University of Florida in 2005 where he helped the Gators finish 4th overall at the national championships in his final year.
He spent four years studying towards a BSc degree in Exercise Physiology which laid the groundwork for his future studies in medicine. On his return to South Africa, he studied Medicine at Stellenbosch University and graduated in 2008.
Hendrik recently moved to Australia after spending the past 10 years working in Canada as a rural GP, emergency room doctor and GP anaesthetist. He obtained the Certification in the College of Family Physicians in Canada and was awarded the Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada. A generalist at heart, he enjoys seeing a diversity of patients and practices evidence-based medicine. He enjoys being active outside and is thrilled to now call the beautiful Mid-North Coast home.
He is married to Dr Lindie Verster, a family doctor who also works at LCMC. They are the proud parents of two energetic young boys.
University of Florida
UF All-Time Rankings: Sixth in Gator school history as relay member of 200-free relay (1:19.43) and eighth as member of 400 free relay (2:54.92).
National/International Competition: Finished fifth in the finals of the 50-meter freestyle, touching the wall in 23.79 at the 2000 U.S. Open...placed ninth in 100-meter free at the 1998 South African Senior Nationals in a personal-best time of 52.70...took 10th at the same meet in the 50 free in another personal-best (24.12)...South African record-holder in the 14- and 15-year old age group in the 100-meter free...additionally, holds Western Province Records for 17-18 age group in the 50- and 100 free.
2000-2001: Part of the 6th place 400-yard freestyle relay team (2:54.05), and the 7th place 200-yard freestyle relay team (1:18.70) at the 2001 NCAA Championships...Part of the third place 200-yard medley relay team (1:27.95) and the second place 200-yard free relay (1:18.62) at the 2001 SEC Championships...was part of the second place 400-yard freestyle relay team that clocked in at 3:03.32 against Tennessee... placed third in the 50-yard free at the Florida Atlantic/Indian River tri-meet...was third in the 200-yard free at TCU with a time of 1:45.25...was on the first place 200-yard freestyle relay team at the Auburn/Arizona State tri-meet with a time of 1:22.05...placed fifth in the 50-yard freestyle at Florida State with a time of 21.52... placed fourth in both the 50-yard freestyle (21.67) and the 100-yard free (47.00) versus Michigan...placed seventh in the 100-yard freestyle at the SEC Eastern Division Dual Meet Extravaganza with a time of 47.31...was a member of the fourth-place 400-yard medley relay team and the fifth-place 400-yard free relay team at the Extravaganza...was part of 400-yard free relay team that placed first at Alabama with a team total of 3:09.05...placed second in the 100-yard freestyle (47.47) and fourth in the 50-yard freestyle (21.70) at the same meet.
1999-2000: At NCAA Championships, he was the third leg of the 400m free relay team that qualified for the consolation finals with a time of 3:16.98, finishing 12th...placed 56th in 100m free preliminaries with a time of 50.46...had UF's third-best time and personal best in 100 free (44.82 at SECs), provisionally qualifying for NCAAs...third leg of UF's 400 free relay team that automatically qualified at SECs, touching the wall in 2:54.92...placed third in 100 free against Miami and Indian River...also placed third in 200 free at Oakland...named to SEC Academic Honor Roll.
1998-99: Earned Honorable Mention All-American honors at the NCAA Championships, as member of UF's 14-place 200- and 400 free relay teams...at the SEC Championships, placed 23rd in the 100 free, touching in 45.41...took 24th in the 50 free (20.83)...finished 19th in the 200 free (1:41.19)...additionally at SECs, was a member of the 200 free relay which finished fourth in 1:20.44...during the season, advanced to NCAAs with 200 free relay foursome which clocked season-best time at Auburn Invitational, finishing in 1:19.43 which stands as fifth-best in Gator record books...clocked career-best in the 50 free (20.37rs) versus Indian River...also had career best in the 100 free (45.06) against Indian River.
High School: 1998 graduate of Paul Roos Gymnasium...swam at club level in South Africa for University of Stellenbosch under Pierre de Roubaix.
Club: Swims for the University of Stellenbosch Club Team... is coached by Pierre de Roubaix.
Major: Exercise Physiology.
| Personal bests, Alltime |  |
| Event | Course | Time | Pts. | Date | City (Nation) | Meet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50m Freestyle | 50m | 23.56 | 699 | 1 Jan 2002 | ??? | UNKNOWN |
| 50m Freestyle | 25m | 23.07 | 667 | 15 Nov 2002 | Rio de Janeiro (BRA) | FINA: World Cup No 1 - 2002/2003 |
| 100m Freestyle | 50m | 51.38 | 758 | 1 Jan 2002 | ??? | UNKNOWN |
| 100m Freestyle | 25m | 50.46 | 701 | 23 Mar 2000 | Minneapolis (USA) | NCAA Championships |
| 50m Butterfly | 50m | 25.02 | 705 | 30 Jul 2002 | Manchester (GBR) | XVII Commonwealth Games |
| 50m Butterfly | 25m | 24.72 | 681 | 15 Nov 2002 | Rio de Janeiro (BRA) | FINA: World Cup No 1 - 2002/2003 ... |
| 100m Butterfly | 50m | 54.84 | 733 | 30 Jul 2002 | Manchester (GBR) | XVII Commonwealth Games |
| 100m Butterfly | 25m | 55.16 | 649 | 15 Nov 2002 | Rio de Janeiro (BRA) | FINA: World Cup No 1 - 2002/2003 ... |