Lyndon Ferns (born 24 September 1983 in Pietersburg, South Africa) is a retired Olympic gold-medalist and former

world record A world record is usually the best global and most important performance that is ever recorded and officially verified in a specific skill, sport, or other kind of activity. The book ''Guinness World Records'' and other world records organization ...

swimmer from

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the Atlantic Ocean, South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the ...

. He swam for South Africa at the

2004 2004 was designated as an International Year of Rice by the United Nations, and the International Year to Commemorate the Struggle Against Slavery and its Abolition (by UNESCO). Events January * January 3 – Flash Airlines Flight 60 ...

and

2008 Olympics The 2008 Summer Olympics (), officially the Games of the XXIX Olympiad () and also known as Beijing 2008 (), were an international multisport event held from 8 to 24 August 2008, in Beijing, China. A total of 10,942 athletes from 204 Nati ...

. At the

2004 Olympics The 2004 Summer Olympics ( el, Θερινοί Ολυμπιακοί Αγώνες 2004, ), officially the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad ( el, Αγώνες της 28ης Ολυμπιάδας, ) and also known as Athens 2004 ( el, Αθήνα 2004), ...

, he was a member of South Africa's Men's 4×100 m freestyle relay that won the event in a

. Three of the team were a part of the relay that broke the record and won gold at the

2006 Commonwealth Games The 2006 Commonwealth Games, officially the XVIII Commonwealth Games and commonly known as Melbourne 2006 (Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm 2006'' or ''Naarm 2006''), was an international multi-sport event for members of the Commonwealth held ...

. 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. He is the holder of the following records: (Updated July 2014) * African records: 100 m freestyle, 4×100 m freestyle relay * South African records: 100 m freestyle, 4×100 m Freestyle relay In April 2011, Lyndon retired from competitive swimming.

College

He attended the

University of Arizona The University of Arizona (Arizona, U of A, UArizona, or UA) is a public land-grant research university in Tucson, Arizona. Founded in 1885 by the 13th Arizona Territorial Legislature, it was the first university in the Arizona Territory. Th ...

, 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 Richard James DeMont (born April 21, 1956) is an American former competition swimmer, world champion, and former world record-holder in multiple events. DeMont is often remembered for the controversy arising from his disqualification at the 197 ...

. 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

Affiliations

* TuksSport –

University of Pretoria The University of Pretoria ( af, Universiteit van Pretoria, nso, Yunibesithi ya Pretoria) is a multi-campus public research university in Pretoria, the administrative and de facto capital of South Africa. The university was established in 1908 ...

, South AfricaLyndon Ferns at Sports Reference
Lyndon Ferns Retrieved 25 June 2011 * Northern Tigers * University of Arizona, USA

References

External links

Retirement news article Sport24
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ferns, Lyndon 1983 births Living people People from Polokwane South African male swimmers White South African people Arizona Wildcats men's swimmers Olympic swimmers of South Africa Swimmers at the 2004 Summer Olympics Swimmers at the 2008 Summer Olympics Olympic gold medalists for South Africa Swimmers at the 2006 Commonwealth Games University of Pretoria alumni World record setters in swimming South African male freestyle swimmers South African people of British descent Medalists at the 2004 Summer Olympics Commonwealth Games gold medallists for South Africa Olympic gold medalists in swimming Commonwealth Games medallists in swimming Sportspeople from Limpopo

College

Personal bests

Affiliations

See also

References

External links