Danyon Loader ONZM

New Zealand Order of Merit

The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order established in 1996 "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have rendered meritorious service to the Crown and nation or who have become distinguished by their eminence, talents, contributions or other merits."The order includes five...

 (born on 21 April 1975 in Timaru, New Zealand

Timaru

TimaruUrban AreaPopulation:27,200Extent:Former Timaru City CouncilTerritorial AuthorityName:Timaru District CouncilPopulation:42,867 Land area:2,736.54 km² Mayor:Janie AnnearWebsite:...

) is an Olympic champion, former World Record holding swimmer

Swimming (sport)

Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native...

 from New Zealand

New Zealand

New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...

, based in Dunedin

Dunedin

Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until...

. , he is a National Record holder.

He swam for New Zealand at two Summer Olympics (1992

New Zealand at the 1992 Summer Olympics

New Zealand competed at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain.The New Zealand Olympic Committee was represented by 145 athletes and 70 officials.- Gold:*Barbara Kendall — Sailing, Women's Windglider Individual Competition- Silver:...

, 1996

New Zealand at the 1996 Summer Olympics

New Zealand competed at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, United States.The New Zealand Olympic Committee was represented by 97 athletes and 60 officials.- Gold:* Danyon Loader — Swimming, men's 200 metres freestyle...

) and three Commonwealth Games (1990, 1994 and 1998).

At the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona

Swimming at the 1992 Summer Olympics

At the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain, 31 swimming events were contested. There was a total of 641 participants from 92 countries competing.-Medal table:-Men's events:* Swimmers who participated in the heats only and received medals....

, he garnered a silver medal in the 200 Butterfly. In 1996 in Atlanta

Swimming at the 1996 Summer Olympics

The swimming competition at the 1996 Summer Olympics was held at the Georgia Tech Aquatic Center in Atlanta, United States, which was built for the Games...

, Loader won two gold medal

Gold medal

A gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...

s: in the 200 and 400 freestyles. He set World Records in the short course 200 butterfly

World record progression 200 metres butterfly

The first world record in the men's 200 metres butterfly in long course swimming was recognised by the International Swimming Federation in 1959. The women's official acknowledged top time came one year earlier...

 and 400 freestyle; and was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame

International Swimming Hall of Fame

The International Swimming Hall of Fame and Museum is a history museum and hall of fame, located at One Hall of Fame Drive, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States, operated by private interests serving as the central point for the study of the history of swimming in the United States and around...

 in 2003.

He has recently reappeared on the local swimming scene after years spent away from it. He is now interested in coaching and takes part in youth development programmes.

He is currently coaching at Capital Swim Club in Wellington

Wellington

Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...

. He co-coaches alongside Gary Hurring

Gary Hurring

Gary Norman Hurring is a former swimmer from New Zealand, who won the gold medal at the 1978 Commonwealth Games in the men's 200 metres backstroke...