Neil Versfeld Explained

Neil Versfeld
Fullname:Neil Robert Versfeld
Strokes:Breaststroke
Club:Seals Swimming Club
Coach:Jack Bauerle (U.S.)
Collegeteam:University of Georgia (U.S.)
Birth Date:29 March 1985
Birth Place:Durban, South Africa
Weight:760NaN0
Show-Medals:yes

Neil Robert Versfeld (born March 29, 1985) is a South African swimmer, who specialized in breaststroke events.[1] He finished ninth with a superb South African record in the men's 200 m breaststroke at the 2008 Summer Olympics, and has claimed multiple South African championship titles in the 50, 100, and 200 m breaststroke.

Versfield swam collegiately for the Georgia Bulldogs at the University of Georgia (UGA). As a UGA senior in 2009, he won an individual national championship in the 200-yard breaststroke at the NCAA Championships by swimming the fastest time in the history of the event (1:51.40). At UGA, Versfeld was a seven-time All-American and graduated as the team record-holder in the 100-yard breaststroke, 200-yard breaststroke, 200-yard medley relay and 400-yard medley relay.[2]

Versfeld competed for the South African swimming team in the men's 200 m breaststroke at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. He finished second behind William Diering with a 2:12.33 at the South African Championships four months earlier in Johannesburg to assure his selection to the Olympic team under FINA A-standard (2:13.70).[3] Having entered the semifinals with the ninth-seeded time (2:10.50), Versfeld rebounded from his immediate defeat in the prelims to subdue a new African record in 2:10.06, but narrowly missed the top eight final by just 0.09 of a second. His ninth-place time also slashed 0.15 seconds off the continental mark, set by Diering in the initial half of the semifinal round.[4] [5]

At the 2009 FINA World Championships in Rome, Italy, Versfeld dipped under a 2:10 barrier to lower his South African record time to 2:09.61 in the semifinals of the 200 m breaststroke.[6] [7]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Neil Versfeld. https://web.archive.org/web/20200418052723/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ve/neil-versfeld-1.html. dead. 18 April 2020. 29 December 2012.
  2. Web site: UGA Swim and Dive Team 2007-2008 Season Review . UGA Athletics Department . 2014-03-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140324032431/http://www.georgiadogs.com/sports/c-swim/spec-rel/08-09-season-review.html . 2014-03-24 . dead .
  3. News: South African Championships: Women Down Two African Records. Swimming World Magazine. 3 April 2008. 7 April 2013.
  4. News: Lohn. John. Olympics, Swimming: Olympic Record Tumbles Twice, Daniel Gyurta Paces Qualifying in 200 Breast. Swimming World Magazine. 12 August 2008. 7 April 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130608175734/http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/18785.asp. 8 June 2013.
  5. Web site: Swimming: Men's 200m Breaststroke Semifinal 2. Beijing 2008. NBC Olympics. 29 December 2012. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120821062423/http://www.2008.nbcolympics.com/swimming/resultsandschedules/rsc=SWM032200/index.html. 21 August 2012.
  6. News: Quiet day for SA swimmers in Rome. Independent Online. South Africa. 30 July 2009. 29 December 2012.
  7. Web site: 2009 FINA World Championships (Rome, Italy) – Men's 200m Breaststroke Semifinals. PDF. Omega Timing. 11 February 2013.