Roland Schoeman

On the opening weekend of the Olympic swimming tournament in Athens, the South African relay squad upset the usual favorites from the United States, Australia and Russia. Roland Schoeman opened with a 48.17 first leg, giving his team a one-second lead that they would not relinquish. This performance upgraded him from an outsider to a favorite for the individual events, and Schoeman didn't disappoint, coming second in the 100 freestyle (won by Pieter van den Hoogenband in 48.17) and third in the 50 metres. At the 2005 World Championships, he also medaled three times, winning both the 50 free and 50 fly, and placing second in the 100 freestyle. He retained his 50 butterfly title (not an Olympic event) in Melbourne 2007, and won three golds at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in the same city. Schoeman has broken a world record on eight occasions, mostly in short-course event, but also once (50 m butterfly) in the Olympic-sized pool. At the height of his career, Schoeman was asked by Qatar to switch nationalities, but declined.