Eugene Botes (born 9 June 1980) is a South African former swimmer, who specialized in butterfly events.[2] He became the first swimmer to represent his country South Africa in international tournaments, while playing for the Penn State Nittany Lions in his senior season. He also holds a dual citizenship between South Africa and the United States.[1]
 Botes at Hidden Hollow Swim Club | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Eugene Botes |
| National team |  South Africa |
| Born | 9 June 1980 Vanderbijlpark, South Africa |
| Height | 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) |
| Weight | 101 kg (223 lb) |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Swimming |
| Strokes | Butterfly |
| Club | Suburban Swim Club (U.S.)[1] |
| College team | Pennsylvania State University (U.S.) |
| Coach | Charlie Kennedy (U.S.)[1] |
Botes qualified for two swimming events at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. He established a South African record and a FINA A-standard entry time of 53.20 (100 m butterfly) from the USA National Championships in College Park, Maryland.[3][4] In the 100 m butterfly, Botes challenged seven other swimmers on the sixth heat, including top medal favorites Andriy Serdinov and Denys Sylantyev of Ukraine. He edged out Mexico's Joshua Ilika Brenner to notch a seventh spot and thirtieth overall by 0.15 of a second in 54.15.[5][6]
Botes also teamed up with Gerhard Zandberg, Terence Parkin, and Karl Otto Thaning in the 4×100 m medley relay. Swimming the butterfly leg in heat two, Botes recorded a time of 54.57, but the South Africans rounded out the field to last place and thirteenth overall with a final time of 3:43.94.[7][8]
Botes is also a graduate of computer science at the Pennsylvania State University in University Park, Pennsylvania. He previously trained for the Suburban Swim Club under his long-time coach and mentor Charlie Kennedy. Botes trained at Media, Pennsylvania's Hidden Hollow Swim Club where he also served as head lifeguard.[1]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d "Penn State Swimmer Eugene Botes Qualifies For 2004 Summer Olympics". Penn State Athletics. 27 April 2004. Archived from the original on 27 July 2014. Retrieved 27 April 2013.
- ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Eugene Botes". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 27 April 2013.
- ^ "Swimming – Men's 100m Butterfly Startlist (Heat 6)" (PDF). Athens 2004. Omega Timing. Retrieved 27 April 2013.
- ^ Whitten, Phillip (8 August 2003). "US Nationals, Day 4 Finals: You Guessed It: Phelps Does it Again!". Swimming World Magazine. Retrieved 27 April 2013.
- ^ "Men's 100m Butterfly Heat 6". Athens 2004. BBC Sport. 19 August 2004. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
- ^ Thomas, Stephen (19 August 2004). "Men's 100 Butterfly, Day 6 Prelims: Crocker Blasts Back into Form as Fastest Qualifier; Serdinov and Phelps Right on his Tail". Swimming World Magazine. Archived from the original on 27 December 2013. Retrieved 11 April 2013.
- ^ "Men's 4×100m Medley Relay Heat 2". Athens 2004. BBC Sport. 15 August 2004. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
- ^ Thomas, Stephen (20 August 2004). "Men's 400 Medley Relay, Prelims Day 7: USA Looks Absolutely Unbeatable; Expect a World Record!". Swimming World Magazine. Archived from the original on 16 January 2014. Retrieved 27 April 2013.
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