Brett Petersen

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.

Brett Petersen
Personal information
Full nameBrett Petersen
National team South Africa
Born (1976-09-09) 9 September 1976
East London, South Africa
Height1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Weight95 kg (209 lb)
Sport
SportSwimming
StrokesBreaststroke
College teamFlorida State University (US)
CoachNeil Harper (US)
Medal record
Men's swimming
Representing South Africa
Goodwill Games
2001 Brisbane 50 m breaststroke
All-Africa Games
1999 Johannesburg 100 m breaststroke

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
  1. 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.
  2. "Seminoles Cruise Through 1998–99 Season". Florida State Seminoles. 2 December 1999. Archived from the original on 30 June 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  3. 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.
  4. Smith, Neville (12 September 1999). "All Africa Games – Day 1". Swim News. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  5. "South Africa Announces Olympic Squad". Swimming World. 11 April 2000. Archived from the original on 15 June 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  6. "Swimming – Men's 100m Breaststroke Startlist (Heat 8)". Sydney 2000. Omega Timing. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
  7. Lemke, Gary (9 April 2000). "Olympic selection a triumph for wisdom". Independent Online. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  8. "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.
  9. Lemke, Gary (18 September 2000). "Penny third as Quann triumphs". Independent Online. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  10. Whitten, Phillip (17 September 2000). "Olympic Day 2 Finals". Swimming World. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 23 May 2013.
  11. "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.
  12. "Goodwill Games: Aussie Men Drub Euros, 113–35; World Squeaks by USA". Swimming World. 31 August 2001. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  13. "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.
  14. 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.
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