Danyon Loader

International swimming success rarely comes New Zealand's way, but Danyon Loader changed all that in his stellar career through the 90s that culminated in his gold medals in the 200 and 400 metres freestyle at the Olympic Games in Atlanta in 1996. Loader had also won a silver medal at the Olympic Games in Barcelona in 1992 and won a gold, three silver and two bronze at Commonwealth Games between 1990 and 1998. Four times New Zealand's swimmer of the year, twice winner of the Lonsdale Cup for outstanding Olympic achievement, three times Sportsman of the Year and, in 1996, the winner of the Halberg Award as the outstanding athlete in New Zealand for the year. He was voted New Zealand's "Athlete of the 90s".