Ryk Neethling

Ryk Neethling

Personal information
Full name	Ryk Neethling
Nationality	South Africa
Born	(1977-11-17) 17 November 1977 Bloemfontein
Sport
Sport	Swimming
College team	Arizona Wildcats
Medal record Men's swimming Representing South Africa Olympic Games Athens 2004 4×100 m free World Championships (LC) 2005 Montreal 100 m freestyle 2005 Montreal 200 m freestyle World Championships (SC) 2006 Shanghai 100 m freestyle 2006 Shanghai 100 m medley 2006 Shanghai 200 m freestyle Pan Pacific Championships 1999 Sydney 1500 m freestyle 1999 Sydney 200 m freestyle 1999 Sydney 400 m freestyle Goodwill Games 1998 New York 800 m freestyle 1998 New York 400 m freestyle Commonwealth Games 2006 Melbourne 4×100 m free 1998 Kuala Lumpur 1500 m freestyle 2002 Manchester 4×100 m free 2006 Melbourne 100 freestyle 2002 Manchester 100 m freestyle

Ryk Neethling (born 17 November 1977) is a South African swimmer. He won an Olympic gold medal in the 4×100 m freestyle relay at the 2004 Summer Olympics. He is the former joint owner of the 4×100 m freestyle relay world record and holds several South African records. He also is the first South African to compete four successive Olympic Games.

Biography

Born in Bloemfontein, he attended Grey College, where he excelled in swimming, earning a place in the South African swimming team for the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, where he came fifth in the 1500 m freestyle.

Immediately following the Games he was enrolled at The University of Arizona in the United States of America, where he further cemented his swimming reputation, earning a numerous awards and accolades, including being the 9 times NCAA National Champion, Arizona Athlete of the Year and PAC-10 Athlete of the Year for four consecutive years, 1999 NCAA Swimmer of the Year, and the University of Arizona Athlete of the Century award.

He continued his international career at the 1998 Commonwealth Games, winning the silver medal in the 1500 m freestyle, but only managing fifth at the 1998 World Aquatics Championships. In 1999 he had a much better Pan Pacific Championships winning silver in the 1500 m freestyle, and bronze in the 400 m and 200 m freestyle. After achieving a disappointing 5th in the 1500 m freestyle event and 8th in the 400 m freestyle at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney he elected to discontinue competing in the 1500 m event, concentrating instead on the 50 m and 100 m freestyle events. At the 2002 Commonwealth Games he won a bronze medal in the 100 m freestyle and came 4th in the 50 m freestyle events. At the 2006 Commonwealth Games he won silver in the 100 m freestyle and was part of the S.A gold medal winning 4×100 m freestyle relay team.

He currently holds the South African record in the 200 m, 400 m, 800 m and 1500 m freestyle events, and recently held 4×100 m freestyle relay world record.

The highlight of his career thus far has been winning a gold medal in the 4×100 m freestyle relay at the 2004 Summer Olympics. He also placed 4th in the individual 100 m freestyle.

In November 2005, he announced that he had refused a multimillion dollar offer by Qatar's Olympic body to switch nationalities and swim for Qatar at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

The 4×100 m freestyle relay world record was subsequently broken in 2006 by the United States of America

After finishing the 2008 Summer Olympics. He become the first South African to participate four successive Olympic Games.

See also

• List of Commonwealth Games medallists in swimming (men)
• List of Olympic medalists in swimming (men)
• World record progression 4 × 100 metres freestyle relay

External links

• Official website

Records
Preceded by Roland Schoeman	World Record Holder Men's 100 Individual Medley (25m) 22 January 2005 – 12 April 2008	Succeeded by Ryan Lochte

Sporting positions
Preceded by Ed Moses	FINA World Cup overall male winner 2004/2005, 2005/2006	Succeeded by Randall Bal