Lyndon Ferns - Olympic gold medallist and world record holder
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).
Lyndon was born 24 September 1983 in Pietersburg, where he attended Pietersburg Laerskool and matriculated at the Hoërskool Pietersburg. Lyndon is the most famous product of the Eager Aquatics swimming club, where he was coached by former South African champion Dougie Eager. In 2002 he won the 100 butterfly at the South African swimming championships, and then accepted a scholarship to swim for the University of Arizona, where he joined South Africans like Ryk Neethling and Roland Schoeman.
He swam for South Africa at the 2004 and 2008 Olympics. At the Athens Olympic Games in 2004 he was part of relay team that won gold medal and set a new world record. His split in that race was 4:34, which was the second fastest in the team, and would have won the bronze medal in the 100m race. In 2009 he set the Africa record for 100m freestyle in 47:79, which is still stands, in July 2018. He swam at the 2010 Pan Pacs where he split 49:19 winning bronze in the 4x100 freestyle relay.
Lyndon retired from swimming in 2011, and married Cara Burger. Having finished agree in accounting at Arizona University, Lyndon now works in that field.
Click here to see all of his Olympic results
50 m free - 22:22
100 m free - 47:79
100 m fly - 51:69
At the University of Arizona:
2002-03 Season: Earned All-America honors in five different events... At 2003 NCAA Championships, was 11th in the 100 free (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 - 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 Ferns marries Cara Burger
http://www.topbilling.com/articles/Lyndon-Ferns%27-Stunning-Wedding.html?articleID=973