Jack Swart Explained

Jack Swart
Birth Date:27 November 1954
Birth Place:Tuakau, New Zealand
Known For:NZ road cyclist

Jack Swart (born 1954) is a former New Zealand road cyclist. In the 1978 Commonwealth Games he competed in the 4000m team pursuit, coming 2nd for silver; and the 4000m individual pursuit. .

In the 1982 Commonwealth Games he competed in the Team time trial, coming 3rd for bronze; and the Road Race, coming 15th.

He was not chosen for the 1984 Summer Olympics despite a world-class performance in the Coors International in Colorado, the selectors apparently regarded him as a tour rider not an individual racer despite having won two New Zealand road championships.[1]

He was described as "the blond-haired giant of New Zealand cycling for the best part of a decade through to 1986". Swart and Blair Stockwell were the only two riders to win the "Dulux North Island Tour" three times.[2]

He was born in Tuakau to a dairy farmer from the Netherlands; his younger brother Stephen Swart was also a champion road cyclist.

Honorific eponym

Swart Lane, in the Hamilton suburb of Chartwell, is named in Jack Swart's honour.[3]

References

  1. Williams p256-7
  2. Williams p252
  3. News: Honouring sportspeople . 2 November 2012 . Waikato Times . 9.