Roland Schoeman facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Roland Schoeman

Personal information
Nationality	South Africa  United States
Born	(1980-07-04) 4 July 1980 (age 44) Pretoria, South Africa
Height	1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Weight	84 kg (185 lb; 13.2 st)
Sport
Sport	Swimming
Strokes	Freestyle, butterfly
Club	Phoenix Swim Club (USA)
College team	Arizona Wildcats
Coach	Jonty Skinner
Medal record Men's swimming Representing  South Africa Olympic Games Gold 2004 Athens 4×100 m freestyle Silver 2004 Athens 100 m freestyle Bronze 2004 Athens 50 m freestyle World Championships (LC) Gold 2005 Montreal 50 m freestyle Gold 2005 Montreal 50 m butterfly Gold 2007 Melbourne 50 m butterfly Silver 2005 Montreal 100 m freestyle Bronze 2001 Fukuoka 50 m freestyle Pan Pacific Championships Silver 2006 Victoria 50 m freestyle Bronze 2006 Victoria 100 m freestyle Bronze 2010 Irvine 50 m butterfly Bronze 2010 Irvine 4×100 m freestyle Commonwealth Games Gold 2002 Manchester 50 m freestyle Gold 2006 Melbourne 50 m freestyle Gold 2006 Melbourne 50 m butterfly Gold 2006 Melbourne 4×100 m freestyle Silver 2002 Manchester 50 m butterfly Silver 2002 Manchester 4×100 m freestyle Silver 2010 Delhi 50 m freestyle Silver 2014 Glasgow 50 m butterfly Silver 2014 Glasgow 4×100 m freestyle Bronze 2006 Melbourne 100 m freestyle Bronze 2010 Delhi 50 m butterfly Bronze 2010 Delhi 4×100 m freestyle

Roland Mark Schoeman is a famous swimmer from South Africa. He was born on July 4, 1980, in Pretoria. He is known for winning many medals in big swimming competitions like the Olympics and World Championships. He was part of the South African swimming team for four Olympic Games: 2000, 2004, 2008, and 2012. In May 2022, he also became a citizen of the United States.

Roland Schoeman's Swimming Journey

Roland Schoeman started swimming when he was 13 years old. He began competing just three years later. He once said he started swimming to impress a girl he met! This fun start led to an amazing career. He won many medals, including gold, silver, and bronze at the 2004 Olympic Games. He also set new South African records in several swimming styles. These included the 100-meter Freestyle, 50-meter Freestyle, 100-meter Butterfly, and 50-meter Butterfly events.

Olympic and Commonwealth Games Success

At the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Roland had a fantastic performance. He won a gold medal in the 4 × 100-meter freestyle relay. He also earned a silver medal in the 100-meter freestyle event. To top it off, he took home a bronze medal in the 50-meter freestyle.

He continued his success at the 2006 Commonwealth Games. There, he won more gold medals. He was part of the team that broke a record in the 4x100-meter freestyle relay. He also claimed individual golds in the 50-meter freestyle and 50-meter butterfly races.

World Championships and Records

In 2005, Roland competed at the FINA World Aquatics Championships in Montreal, Canada. He won two gold medals there. He set a new world record in the 50-meter Butterfly. He also won the 50-meter Freestyle. He added a silver medal in the 100-meter freestyle.

He successfully defended his 50-meter butterfly title at the 2007 World Championships in Melbourne, Australia. Roland also reached the finals for the 50-meter and 100-meter freestyle races.

Roland Schoeman set a new short course (25-meter pool) world record in the 50-meter freestyle in 2008. He swam it in 20.64 seconds. He lost this record later but got it back in 2009. He swam an even faster time of 20.30 seconds. This record was later broken by another swimmer in 2014.

National Pride and Later Career

In 2005, Roland Schoeman turned down a very large offer to swim for another country. He said he wanted to swim for South Africa because of national pride. He felt that hearing the South African national anthem and sharing his wins with his country made winning special.

Roland, who has asthma, was named the African Swimmer of the Year multiple times. He also won the South African Sports Star of the Year award in 2004. In 2007, he received a special award from the South African President. It was called the Order of Ikhamanga in Silver, given for excellent achievements in swimming.

At the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Roland was 32 years old. He still made it to the final in the men's 50-meter freestyle. He finished very close behind the gold medal winner. In 2016, he did not qualify for his fifth Olympics. As of 2023, he is part of a group that advises athletes for the Enhanced Games.

Career Best Times

Roland Schoeman has broken many world records during his career. He broke three long course (50-meter pool) world records. Two of these were individual records, and one was for a relay team. He also broke six short course (25-meter pool) world records, all of which were individual records.

Awards and Recognition

Roland Schoeman has received several special honors for his achievements:

• In 2004, he was added to the Sport Hall of Fame at the University of Pretoria.
• In 2007, he was added to the Sports Hall of Fame at the University of Arizona.

See also

In Spanish: Roland Schoeman para niños

• List of Commonwealth Games medallists in swimming (men)
• List of Olympic medalists in swimming (men)
• World record progression 50 metres freestyle
• World record progression 100 metres freestyle
• World record progression 50 metres butterfly
• World record progression 100 metres individual medley