Eugene Botes

Eugene Botes (born June 9, 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]

Eugene Botes
Botes at Hidden Hollow Swim Club
Personal information
Full nameEugene Botes
National team South Africa
Born (1980-06-09) 9 June 1980
Vanderbijlpark, South Africa
Height1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
Weight101 kg (223 lb)
Sport
SportSwimming
StrokesButterfly
ClubSuburban Swim Club (U.S.)[1]
College teamPennsylvania State University
(U.S.)
CoachCharlie 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

References
  1. "Penn State Swimmer Eugene Botes Qualifies For 2004 Summer Olympics". Penn State Athletics. 27 April 2004. Retrieved 27 April 2013.
  2. 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.
  3. "Swimming – Men's 100m Butterfly Startlist (Heat 6)" (PDF). Athens 2004. Omega Timing. Retrieved 27 April 2013.
  4. Whitten, Phillip (8 August 2003). "US Nationals, Day 4 Finals: You Guessed It: Phelps Does it Again!". Swimming World Magazine. Retrieved 27 April 2013.
  5. "Men's 100m Butterfly Heat 6". Athens 2004. BBC Sport. 19 August 2004. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
  6. 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.
  7. "Men's 4×100m Medley Relay Heat 2". Athens 2004. BBC Sport. 15 August 2004. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
  8. 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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