New Zealand swimmer
Danyon Loader
Full name Danyon Joseph Loader Born (1975-04-21 ) 21 April 1975 (age 48) [1] Timaru , New Zealand[1] Height 188 cm (6 ft 2 in)[1] Weight 84 kg (185 lb)[1] Country New Zealand Sport Swimming Event(s) Freestyle , butterfly
Danyon Joseph Loader ONZM (born 21 April 1975) is an Olympic champion, former world record holder swimmer from New Zealand, based in Dunedin . He remains the national record holder in the 400 metre freestyle short course.[2]
He swam for New Zealand at two Summer Olympics (1992 , 1996 ) and three Commonwealth Games (1990 , 1994 and 1998 ).
At the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona , he garnered a silver medal in the 200 metre butterfly. In 1996 in Atlanta , Loader won two gold medals : in the 200 and 400 metre freestyle. He set world records in the short course 200 butterfly and 400 freestyle.[3] In the 1997 New Year Honours , Loader was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit , for services to swimming,[4] and he was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 2003.[3]
In December 2012, Loader starred in an online video campaign supporting same-sex marriage , alongside New Zealand singers Anika Moa , Hollie Smith , and Boh Runga , as well as past Governor-General Dame Catherine Tizard .[5]
Olympic champions in men's 200 m freestyle
Olympic champions in men's 400 m freestyle
Commonwealth champions in men's 200 m butterfly
1958 – 1966: 220 yards
1970 – present: 200 metres
Pan Pacific Champions in Men's 200 m Freestyle
Pan Pacific Champions in Men's 200 m Butterfly
1990 New Zealand Commonwealth Games team
1992 New Zealand Olympic team
1996 New Zealand Olympic team
Summer Olympics multiple gold medallists from New Zealand