Brett Petersen (born 9 September 1976) is a South African former swimmer, who specialised in breaststroke events.[1] He won a gold medal in the 100 m breaststroke at the 1999 All-Africa Games, and later became a top 8 finalist in the same distance at the 2000 Summer Olympics. While studying in the United States, Petersen was part of the 200-yard medley relay team that claimed a top finish at the 1998 Atlantic Coast Conference Swimming Championships.[2] Petersen also played for the Florida State Seminoles swimming and diving team under head coach Neil Harper, and later became a graduate of management information systems at the Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida.
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Brett Petersen | ||||||||||||||||||||
| National team |  South Africa | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 9 September 1976 East London, South Africa | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 95 kg (209 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Swimming | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Strokes | Breaststroke | ||||||||||||||||||||
| College team | Florida State University (US) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Coach | Neil Harper (US) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Petersen established his swimming history at the 1999 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in Sydney, where he placed fourth in the 100 m breaststroke, just a small fraction outside the podium.[3] On that same year, Petersen powered home with a gold medal for South Africa in the 100 m breaststroke (1:02.63) at the All-Africa Games in Johannesburg.[4]
At the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Petersen competed only in two swimming events.[5] He established a South African record and achieved a FINA A-standard of 1:01.62 from the Olympic trials in Johannesburg.[6][7] In the 100 m breaststroke, Petersen finished seventh in a time of 1:01.63, holding off Switzerland's Remo Lütolf by a quarter of a second (0.25).[8][9][10] Petersen also teamed up with Simon Thirsk, Nicholas Folker, and Theo Verster in the 4 × 100 m medley relay. Swimming a breaststroke leg in heat two, Petersen recorded a split of 1:02.51, but the South Africans finished the race in fourth place and thirteenth overall with a final time of 3:42.44.[11]
At the 2001 Goodwill Games in Brisbane, Petersen fought off a challenge from Australia's Simon Cowley to pick up a silver medal in the 50 m breaststroke (28.72).[12]
The following year, at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, England, Petersen failed to receive a single medal in any of his individual events, finishing fourth in the 50 m breaststroke (28.64) and fifth in the 100 m breaststroke (1:02.14).[13][14]
References edit
- ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Brett Petersen". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
- ^ "Seminoles Cruise Through 1998–99 Season". Florida State Seminoles. 2 December 1999. Archived from the original on 30 June 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
- ^ Thomas, Stephen (23 August 1999). "1999 Pan Pacific Championships: Day 2". Swimming World. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 3 June 2013.
- ^ Smith, Neville (12 September 1999). "All Africa Games – Day 1". Swim News. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
- ^ "South Africa Announces Olympic Squad". Swimming World. 11 April 2000. Archived from the original on 15 June 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
- ^ "Swimming – Men's 100m Breaststroke Startlist (Heat 8)". Sydney 2000. Omega Timing. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
- ^ Lemke, Gary (9 April 2000). "Olympic selection a triumph for wisdom". Independent Online. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
- ^ "Sydney 2000: Swimming – Men's 100m Breaststroke Final" (PDF). Sydney 2000. LA84 Foundation. p. 237. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 August 2011. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
- ^ Lemke, Gary (18 September 2000). "Penny third as Quann triumphs". Independent Online. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
- ^ Whitten, Phillip (17 September 2000). "Olympic Day 2 Finals". Swimming World. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 23 May 2013.
- ^ "Sydney 2000: Swimming – Men's 4×100m Medley Relay Heat 2" (PDF). Sydney 2000. LA84 Foundation. p. 347. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 August 2011. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
- ^ "Goodwill Games: Aussie Men Drub Euros, 113–35; World Squeaks by USA". Swimming World. 31 August 2001. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
- ^ "England Celebrates Its Greatest Day Ever in International Competition, Wins 4 Gold on Day 3 of Commonwealth Games". Swimming World. 1 August 2002. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
- ^ Whitten, Phillip (3 August 2002). "Welsh Wins 100 Back at Commonwealth Games, Stymies Thorpe's Bid for 7 Gold: Norris Wins Third Gold". Swimming World. Archived from the original on 15 June 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2013.