View source for Ryk Neethling

{{short description|South African swimmer and Olympic gold medalist}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Infobox swimmer
| name = Ryk Neethling
| image =
| imagesize = <!-- Only for images narrower than 220 pixels -->
| caption =
| fullname = Ryk Neethling
| nicknames =
| nationality = South African
| strokes = Freestyle
| club = Seals Swim Club<br>Bloemfontein, S.A.
| coach       = Simon Gray (Seals SC)<br>[[Rick DeMont|R. DeMont]], [[Frank Busch|F. Busch]] (U. A.)
| collegeteam = [[University of Arizona]]
| birth_date =  {{birth date and age|df=y|1977|11|17}} 
| birth_place = [[Bloemfontein]]
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height = 196 cm  
| weight = 95 kg
| medaltemplates =
{{MedalSport | Men's swimming}}
{{MedalCountry|{{RSA}}}}
{{MedalCompetition | [[Olympic Games]] }}
[[File:Olympic rings.svg|center|80px]]
{{MedalGold| [[2004 Summer Olympics|2004 Athens]]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/olympics/2004/schedules/117BySport.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040814153430/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/olympics/2004/schedules/117BySport.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=14 August 2004 |title=2004 Olympic Games swimming results |access-date=22 July 2007 | publisher=CNN}}</ref> | [[Swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Men's 4 × 100 metre freestyle relay|4×100 m free]]}} 
{{MedalCompetition|[[FINA World Aquatics Championships|World Championships (LC)]]}}
{{MedalBronze|[[2005 World Aquatics Championships|2005 Montreal]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fina.org/events/WC/Montreal_2005/results/sw.php |title=Montreal 2005 Results |access-date=9 June 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070128064425/http://www.fina.org/events/WC/Montreal_2005/results/sw.php <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 28 January 2007}}</ref>|[[Swimming at the 2005 World Aquatics Championships – Men's 100 metre freestyle|100 m freestyle]]}}
{{MedalBronze|[[2005 World Aquatics Championships|2005 Montreal]]|[[Swimming at the 2005 World Aquatics Championships – Men's 200 metre freestyle|200 m freestyle]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[FINA World Championships - Short Course|World Championships (SC)]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[2006 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m)|2006 Shanghai]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fina.org/events/SW/SWC(25m)/Shanghai_2006/results/index.php |title=Shanghai 2006 results |access-date=24 July 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070306103724/http://www.fina.org/events/SW/SWC(25m)/Shanghai_2006/results/index.php <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 6 March 2007}}</ref>|[[2006 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m)|100 m freestyle]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[2006 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m)|2006 Shanghai]]|[[2006 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m)|100 m medley]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[2006 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m)|2006 Shanghai]]|[[2006 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m)|200 m freestyle]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Pan Pacific Swimming Championships|Pan Pacific Championships]]}}
{{MedalSilver| [[1999 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships|1999 Sydney]] | [[1999 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships|1500 m freestyle]]}}
{{MedalBronze| [[1999 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships|1999 Sydney]] | [[1999 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships|200 m freestyle]]}}
{{MedalBronze| [[1999 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships|1999 Sydney]] | [[1999 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships|400 m freestyle]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Goodwill Games]]}}
{{MedalGold| [[1998 Goodwill Games|1998 New York]] | [[Swimming at the 1998 Goodwill Games|800 m freestyle]]}}
{{MedalBronze| [[1998 Goodwill Games|1998 New York]] | [[Swimming at the 1998 Goodwill Games|400 m freestyle]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Commonwealth Games]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[2006 Commonwealth Games|2006 Melbourne]]|[[Swimming at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|4×100 m free]]}}
{{MedalSilver|[[1998 Commonwealth Games|1998 Kuala Lumpur]]|[[Swimming at the 1998 Commonwealth Games – Men's 1500 metre freestyle|1500 m freestyle]]}}
{{MedalSilver|[[2002 Commonwealth Games|2002 Manchester]]|[[2002 Commonwealth Games results#Swimming|4×100 m free]]}}
{{MedalSilver|[[2006 Commonwealth Games|2006 Melbourne]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.melbourne2006.com.au/Schedule+and+Results/By+Sport/Aquatics%20Swimming |title=Swimming Schedule and Results |access-date=22 August 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070811124308/http://www.melbourne2006.com.au/Schedule%2Band%2BResults/By%2BSport/Aquatics%2BSwimming |archive-date=11 August 2007  }}</ref>|[[Swimming at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|100 freestyle]]}}
{{MedalBronze|[[2002 Commonwealth Games|2002 Manchester]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport3/commonwealthgames2002/bsp/statistics/results.stm |title=BBC Sport Commonwealth Games 2002 Statistics |access-date=29 August 2007 | work=BBC News}}</ref>|[[2002 Commonwealth Games results#Swimming|100 m freestyle]]}}
}}

'''Ryk Neethling''' [[Order of Ikhamanga|OIS]] (born 17 November 1977) is a South African businessman who rose to prominence as a three-time [[World Champion|World Aquatic Champion]] and four-time [[World Record]] breaking [[Swimming at the Summer Olympics|Olympic swimming]] champion, participating in four Olympics for South Africa from 1996-2008.<ref name=swimhistory>{{cite web|url=https://swimhistory.co.za/index.php/1992-onwards/ryk-neethling|title=Swim History, Ryk Neethling|website=swimhistory.co.za|access-date=20 February 2025}}</ref>  He won a gold medal in the 4x100 freestyle relay at the 2004 Athens Olympics, and is known as one of the most accomplished South African swimmers in history. He would later serve as the CEO of the [[Charlene, Princess of Monaco|Princess Charlene of Monaco]] Foundation South Africa, and found the Ryk Neethling Swimming Schools.<ref name=Olympedia/>

Born in [[Bloemfontein]], S.A. on 17 November 1977, he attended [[Grey College, Bloemfontein|Grey College]], and was coached by Simon Gray at the Seals Swim Club of Bloemfontein. In 1994, Ryk eclipsed the 1500m freestyle South African record by ten seconds, formerly set by his own coach Simon Gray in 1976. Around 18, he captured the 400 and 1500m freestyle competition at the 1995 South African swimming championships. During his time at Grey College, he gained national recognition as a swimmer, earning a place with the South African swimming team for the [[1996 Summer Olympics]] in [[Atlanta]].  He enrolled at the University of Arizona after the 1996 games.<ref name=swimhistory/>

==University of Arizona==
After attending the 1996 Atlanta Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, Neethling attended the [[University of Arizona]] in Tucson, Arizona, enrolling in the Fall of 1996 and attending through 2000, where he was managed and trained by ASCAA Hall of Fame Head Coach [[Frank Busch]], and Assistant Hall of Fame Coach [[Rick DeMont]].  DeMont was a former holder of the 1500-meter world record in 1972, and an Olympic participant who had initially won the 400-meter freestyle and was well suited to improve Neethling's freestyle technique and efficiency.<ref name=Artist>{{cite web|url=https://swimswam.com/rick-demont-an-artists-approach-to-coaching/|title=Grace, Jeff, September 13, 2018, Rick DeMont; An Artists Approach to Coaching|website=swimswam.com|access-date=February 19, 2025}}</ref><ref>"Swimming, Neethling", ''Arizona Daily Star'', Tucson, Arizona, July 11, 2015, pg. B005</ref>   

Neethling won nine [[National Collegiate Athletic Association]] championships while a student at Arizona. As a Sophomore, he won NCAA titles in the 200, 500, and 1650-yard freestyle.  He was a Pac-10 Conference individual champion seven times, an All-American seventeen times, and the NCAA Division I Swimmer of the Year for 1998-99.<ref>[https://valdevie.co.za/meet-ryk-neethling-swimming-champ-who-fell-for-val-de-vie-biznews-com/ Swimming Champ who fell for Val de Vie]. Retrieved 4 January 2020</ref>  Graduating around 2000, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in [[Psychology]] and Business from the [[University of Arizona|University]].<ref>[http://www.702.co.za/articles/651/how-ryk-neethling-became-a-businessman-and-turned-down-r50m-along-the-way 702.co.za interview]. Retrieved 4 January 2020</ref><ref>[http://www.capetalk.co.za/articles/369078/val-de-vie-ranked-sa-s-top-residential-estate-once-again Cape Talk interview]. Retrieved 4 January 2020</ref>

==Olympics 1996-2008==
He was the first [[South Africa]]n to compete in four successive [[Olympic Games]] from 1996-2008.<ref>[https://pcmfsa.co.za/team/ryk-neethling/ Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation – Ryk Neethling]. Retrieved 4 January 2020</ref><ref>[https://swimhistory.co.za/index.php/champions/1992-menu/ryk-neethling swimhistory.co.za – Ryk Neethling]. Retrieved 4 January 2020</ref><ref>[https://www.gauteng.net/pages/ryk_neethling Gauteng.net – Ryk Neethling]. Retrieved 4 January 2020</ref>

He participated in the 1500 at the Atlanta Olympic Games in 1996 finishing fifth with a time of 15:14.63.  He again finished fifth in the 1500 with an improved time of 15.00.48 at the 2000 Sydney Olympic games, less than four seconds from contending for a bronze medal.<ref name=Olympedia/>  

==2004 Athens Olympic gold medal==
Neethling won an [[Olympic medal|Olympic gold medal]] in the [[Swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Men's 4 × 100 metre freestyle relay|4×100&nbsp;m freestyle relay]] freestyle relay at the [[2004 Summer Olympics]] in a high point of his career.  The 2004 4x100 meter Olympic gold medal South African relay team that set a winning time of 3:13.17, consisted of [[Roland Schoeman]], [[Lyndon Ferns]], [[Darian Townsend]] and Neethling.  As one of the events fastest swimmers, Schoeman's opening leg in the 4x100 meter freestyle relay, opened up a short lead that remained throughout the race defeating the second place Netherlands team at the finish by a second and defeating the United States team which took the bronze.<ref name=Olympedia/>  Making a major contribution, Neethling maintained the lead swimming the anchor position with a time of 47.99, the fastest time of all the South African relay swimmers.<ref name=Olympedia>{{cite web|url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/50013|title=Olympedia Biography Ryk Neethling|website=olympedia.org|access-date=20 February 2025}}</ref><ref name=UAHOF>{{cite web|url=https://arizonawildcats.com/news/2024/9/16/swimming-diving-four-former-wildcats-inducted-into-south-african-sports-hall-of-fame.aspx|title=University of Arizona Sports Hall of Fame, Four Former Wildcats Inducted into South African Sports Hall of Fame, Roland Schoeman|website=arizonawildcats.com|access-date=February 19, 2025}}</ref>  Neethling placed 4th in the individual 100&nbsp;meter freestyle at the 2004 games.<ref name=Olympedia/>

At the 2008 Olympics, he again competed in the 100-meter freestyle placing 30th, and in the 4x100 meter freestyle relay, one of his signature events, he placed seventh.<ref name=Olympedia/>

===World and S.A. records=== 
He is the former joint owner of the 4×100&nbsp;m freestyle relay world record and broke the 100m [[Medley swimming|Individual Medley]] World Record three times in 2005.  He has held the South African record in the 200&nbsp;m, 400&nbsp;m, 800&nbsp;m and 1500&nbsp;m freestyle events. He also broke three world records in the 100m individual medley.<ref name=Olympedia/>

===International competition highlights=== 
Neethling participated in the [[1998 Commonwealth Games]], winning the silver medal in the 1500&nbsp;m freestyle, but only capturing a fifth place at the [[1998 World Aquatics Championships]]. In 1999 he had a better performance at the [[Pan Pacific Swimming Championships|Pan Pacific Championships]] winning silver in the 1500&nbsp;m freestyle, and bronze in the 400&nbsp;m and 200&nbsp;m freestyle.<ref name=swimhistory/> 

After achieving a disappointing fifth place in the 1500&nbsp;m freestyle event and an eighth in the 400&nbsp;m freestyle at the [[2000 Summer Olympics]] in Sydney, he decided to quit competing in the 1500&nbsp;m event, preferring to focus on the 50&nbsp;m and 100&nbsp;m freestyle events. At the [[2002 Commonwealth Games]] he captured a bronze medal in the 100&nbsp;m freestyle and finished 4th in the 50&nbsp;m freestyle events. At the [[2006 Commonwealth Games]] he captured a silver in the 100&nbsp;m freestyle and was part of the S.A gold medal winning 4×100&nbsp;m freestyle relay team.  He won three individual gold medals at the 2006 [[FINA World Aquatics Championships]] in Shanghai.<ref name=Olympedia/><ref name=swimhistory/> 

In November 2005, he announced that he had refused a multimillion-dollar offer by [[Qatar]]'s Olympic body to switch nationalities and swim for Qatar at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.<ref name=Olympedia/><ref name=swimhistory/>

==Professional life==
He has served as CEO of the [[Charlene, Princess of Monaco|Princess Charlene of Monaco]] Foundation South Africa, a [[Laureus Sport for Good Award|Laureus Sport for Good]] Foundation Ambassador, founder of the Ryk Neethling Swimming Schools and a director and shareholder of [[Val de Vie Estate]]. He is also an international keynote and motivational speaker.<ref>[https://www.fondationprincessecharlene.mc/en/ambassadors-advisors/ryk-neethling Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation]. Retrieved 4 January 2020</ref><ref>[https://valdevie.co.za/management-team/ Val de Vie Management Team]. Retrieved 4 January 2020</ref><ref>[https://www.onfirecomedy.co.za/speakers/ryk-neethling/ On Fire Comedy Public Speaker]. Retrieved 4 January 2020</ref><ref>[http://www.entertainment-online.co.za/rykneethling.htm Entertainment online Public Speaker]. Retrieved 4 January 2020</ref><ref>[https://whacked.co.za/portfolio/ryk-neethling Whacked Public Speaker]. Retrieved 4 January 2020</ref><ref>[https://www.laureus.co.za/project/ryk-neethling/ Laureus Ryk Neethling]. Retrieved 4 January 2020</ref><ref>[https://www.news24.com/Drum/Archive/ryk-neethling-sas-newest-laureus-ambassador-20170728-2 Laureus News 24]. Retrieved 4 January 2020</ref>  

Neethling opened the second branch of the Ryk Neethling Swimming School and Academy in South Africa around June of 2012. The academy focuses on teaching children swimming at an early age, a focus Neethling believed could be a life-long benefit.<ref>"Ryk Neethling", ''Arizona Daily Star'', Tucson, Arizona, 28 June 2012, pg. B002</ref>

He has more recently served as a shareholder and marketing director of [[Val de Vie Estate]] a luxury property development in [[Paarl]], South Africa.<ref>[https://valdevie.co.za/meet-ryk-neethling-swimming-champ-who-fell-for-val-de-vie-biznews-com/ Swimming Champ who fell for Val de Vie]. Retrieved 4 January 2020</ref>

==Honors==
At the University of Arizona, he was considered one of the most honored swimmers in the history of the school.  He was named the American [[NCAA]] Swimmer of the Year and Athlete of the Century in 1999. He was an Arizona Athlete of the Year, and won the University of Arizona Athlete of the Century award.<ref>[http://www.702.co.za/articles/651/how-ryk-neethling-became-a-businessman-and-turned-down-r50m-along-the-way 702.co.za interview]. Retrieved 4 January 2020</ref><ref>[http://www.capetalk.co.za/articles/369078/val-de-vie-ranked-sa-s-top-residential-estate-once-again Cape Talk interview]. Retrieved 4 January 2020</ref> He was a Pac-10 Athlete of the Year four years in a row while at Arizona.<ref name=NeethlingADS>"Swimming, Neethling", ''Arizona Daily Star'', Tucson, Arizona, 11 July 2015, pg. B005</ref><ref name=swimhistory/> 

In August, 2024, he was inducted into the South Africa Sports Hall of Fame, along with the three other swimmers who won the gold medal in the 4x100 meter freestyle relay at the 2004 Athens Olympics.<ref name=SASHOF>{{cite web|url=https://arizonawildcats.com/news/2024/9/16/swimming-diving-four-former-wildcats-inducted-into-south-african-sports-hall-of-fame.aspx|title=South Africa Sports Hall of Fame, Roland Schoeman|website=arizonawildcats.com|access-date=20 February 2025}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of Commonwealth Games medallists in swimming (men)]]
* [[List of Olympic medalists in swimming (men)]]
* [[World record progression 4 × 100 metres freestyle relay]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050627001336/http://www.rykneethling.com/ Official website]
* {{FINA|1037204}}
* {{Olympics.com|ryk-neethling}}
* {{Olympedia}}
* {{CGF profile}}
* [https://swimhistory.co.za/index.php/1992-onwards/ryk-neethling Swim History, Ryk Neethling]

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{{succession box|before=[[Roland Schoeman]]|title=World Record Holder <br> [[World record progression 100 metres medley|Men's 100 Individual Medley (25m)]]|years=22 January 2005 – 12 April 2008|after=[[Ryan Lochte]]|rec}}
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{{succession box|before=[[Ed Moses (swimmer)|Ed Moses]]|title=[[FINA Swimming World Cup|FINA World Cup]] <br> overall male winner|years=2004/2005, 2005/2006|after=[[Randall Bal]]}}
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{{Footer Olympic Champions 4x100 m Freestyle Relay Men}}
{{Footer World SC Champions 100m Freestyle Men}}
{{Footer World SC Champions 200m Freestyle Men}}
{{Footer World SC Champions 100m Medley Men}}
{{Footer Commonwealth Champions 4x100m Freestyle Men}}
{{Pac-12 Conference Swimmer of the Year navbox}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Neethling, Ryk}}
[[Category:1977 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Afrikaner people]]
[[Category:South African people of Dutch descent]]
[[Category:Swimmers from Bloemfontein]]
[[Category:Olympic swimmers for South Africa]]
[[Category:Olympic gold medalists for South Africa]]
[[Category:Swimmers at the 1996 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Swimmers at the 2000 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Swimmers at the 2004 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Swimmers at the 2008 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Swimmers at the 2006 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Swimmers at the 2002 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Swimmers at the 1998 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games gold medallists for South Africa]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games swimmers for South Africa]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games gold medallists in swimming]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games silver medallists for South Africa]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games silver medallists in swimming]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games bronze medallists for South Africa]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games bronze medallists in swimming]]
[[Category:Arizona Wildcats men's swimmers]]
[[Category:South African expatriate swimmers in the United States]]
[[Category:Alumni of Grey College, Bloemfontein]]
[[Category:World record setters in swimming]]
[[Category:South African male freestyle swimmers]]
[[Category:World Aquatics Championships medalists in swimming]]
[[Category:Medalists at the FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m)]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2004 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of Ikhamanga]]
[[Category:Olympic gold medalists in swimming]]
[[Category:Goodwill Games medalists in swimming]]
[[Category:Competitors at the 1998 Goodwill Games]]
[[Category:Medallists at the 1998 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Medallists at the 2002 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Medallists at the 2006 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:21st-century South African sportsmen]]