Lyndon Ferns

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]

Lyndon Ferns
Personal information
Nationality South Africa
Born (1983-09-24) 24 September 1983
Pietersburg, South Africa (now Polokwane, South Africa)
Height6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight198 lb (90 kg)
Sport
SportSwimming
StrokesSprint Freestyle / Butterfly
ClubFord Aquatics
College teamArizona Wildcats (USA)
Medal record
Men's swimming
Representing  South Africa
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2004 Athens 4×100 m freestyle
Commonwealth Games
Gold medal – first place 2006 Melbourne4×100 m freestyle
Pan Pacific Championships
Bronze medal – third place2010 Irvine4×100 m freestyle

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)

In April 2011, Lyndon retired from competitive swimming.

College

He 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. Lyndon now lives in South Africa.

Personal bests
Event Time Date
50 lcm Freestyle22.22April, 2008
100 lcm Freestyle47.79July, 2009
100 lcm Butterfly51.69June, 2009
Event Time Date
50 scm Freestyle21.28July, 2006
50 scm Butterfly22.83July, 2006
100 scm Freestyle46.00October, 2009
100 scm Butterfly50.17November, 2009
Event Time Date
50 y Freestyle19.22December, 2003
100 y Freestyle42.34March, 2005
100 y Butterfly45.89March, 2006

Affiliations

See also

References
  1. Ferns' result page from the 2008 Olympics website; retrieved 2009-06-30.
  2. Ferns' entry from www.sports-reference.com; retrieved 2009-06-30.
  3. SA swim squad announced. From sport24.com.za; published 2009-05-12, retrieved 2009-06-30.
  4. Ferns' bio page Archived 13 January 2009 at the Wayback Machine from the University of Arizona Athletics website; retrieved 2009-06-30.
  5. Lyndon Ferns at Sports Reference Lyndon Ferns Retrieved 25 June 2011
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