POLOKWANE – Polokwane-born swimmer and 2004 Olympic gold medallist, Lyndon Ferns, will be inducted into the South African Sport Hall of Fame today (Thursday) at Monte Casino in Gauteng.
Ferns, alongside his 2004 South African swimming teammates Roland Schoeman, Darian Townsend, and Ryk Neethling, will be honoured for their world-record-breaking performance that earned Olympic gold in the 4x100m freestyle relay at the Athens Olympics.
Ferns’ illustrious career also includes gold at the 2006 Commonwealth Games with the South African swimming team.
In 2007, at the World Championships in Melbourne, Australia, Ferns became the first African man to swim the 100m butterfly in under 52 seconds, finishing in 51.90 seconds and breaking his own African record. He also participated in the 4x100m freestyle and 4x100m medley relays, both of which placed fourth.
At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Ferns set an African record in the 100m freestyle with a time of 48.00 seconds, earning a sixth-place finish in the finals.
He also competed in the 100m butterfly, 4x100m freestyle relay, and 4x100m medley relay.
In 2009, Ferns became the first African male to complete the 100m freestyle in under 48 seconds, setting a new African record of 47.79 seconds at the World Championships.
Ferns, an alumnus of Hoërskool Pietersburg and currently the divisional executive head at Action Ford in Krugersdorp, expressed his joy at the Hall of Fame induction.
“The Olympic gold medal was special, and this is equally special. It is the dream of every athlete to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, and I am happy to join the list of athletes. This is big for me.”
He thanked the people of Polokwane for their unwavering support throughout his swimming journey.
“The people of Polokwane have been supportive throughout my career. Some would even travel to watch my competitions, and I want to thank them. My message to young swimmers in Polokwane is that it doesn’t matter where you come from – it’s about attitude, time management, and hard work. You can achieve your goals with dedication.”
The South African Hall of Fame recognises extraordinary achievements of South Africans and aims to inspire future generations through various initiatives. Ferns’ induction serves as a testament to his dedication and contribution to South African swimming and sport.
