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Lyndon Ferns

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Lyndon Ferns
Personal information
Nationality South Africa
Born (1983-09-24) 24 September 1983 (age 41)
Pietersburg (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 Melbourne 4×100 m freestyle
Pan Pacific Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2010 Irvine 4×100 m freestyle

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]

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

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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 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. While at UA, Lyndon completed his Bsc Accounting degree and now lives in South Africa.

Personal bests

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Event Time Date
50 lcm Freestyle 22.22 April 2008
100 lcm Freestyle 47.79 July 2009
100 lcm Butterfly 51.69 June 2009
Event Time Date
50 scm Freestyle 21.28 July 2006
50 scm Butterfly 22.83 July 2006
100 scm Freestyle 46.00 October 2009
100 scm Butterfly 50.17 November 2009
Event Time Date
50 y Freestyle 19.22 December 2003
100 y Freestyle 42.34 March 2005
100 y Butterfly 45.89 March 2006

Affiliations

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Ferns' result page". Beijing2008.cn. The Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad. Archived from the original on 17 September 2008. Retrieved 30 June 2009.
  2. ^ a b Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Lyndon Ferns". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 30 June 2009.
  3. ^ "SA swim squad announced". sport24.com.za. 12 May 2009. Retrieved 30 June 2009.
  4. ^ "Ferns' bio page". University of Arizona Athletics website. Archived from the original on 13 January 2009. Retrieved 30 June 2009.
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