Jason Dunford
Encyclopedia
Jason Edward Dunford is a swimmer from Kenya
. He is predominantly a butterfly and freestyle sprinter. He has won gold medals at the Commonwealth Games
, Universiade
, All-Africa Games
and African Championships
, and reached finals at Olympics, World Championships and Short Course World Championships. He has also held African
, Universiade and Olympic records. Many of his achievements are unprecedented in the history of Kenyan swimming.
, Geraldine, granddaughter to Abraham Block, the founder of Block Hotels is the marketing executive. Martin was the vice chairman of the Kenya Swimming Federation and the patron of the Nairobi Amateur Swimming Association (NASA).
He has two brothers, Robert and David
. The elder, Robert, is a graduate of the London School of Economics
where he was captain of the rugby
club. The younger brother, David, is also a swimmer and represents Kenya. The family belongs to the white minority in Kenya
.
(a high school) in the United Kingdom
.
Dunford competed in various races at the 2004 Short Course World Championships in Indianapolis
, and 2005 World Championships
in Montreal
, but the young swimmer failed to advance past the heats.
While at Marlborough College he met coach Peter O'Sullivan, himself a former Great Britain International Swimmer in the 400 m Individual medley. O'Sullivan had swum at the University of Georgia
, and it was he who encouraged Jason to look to college in the US to develop his swimming career. In 2005, After finishing his A-Levels, Dunford moved to Stanford University
in the United States
where he earned a swimming scholarship. In 2009, he graduated with a BA in Human biology
.
he reached semifinals in two events: 100 metres freestyle and 100 metres butterfly. He missed the 2006 Commonwealth Games
due to exams
The 2006 African Swimming Championships in Dakar
, Senegal
, marked a breakthrough moment for him as he became the first Kenyan ever to win a continental swimming medal with gold in the 100m butterfly on the first day of competition. He went on to finish the competition with two gold medals (100m butterfly and 50m backstroke), three silvers (50m butterfly, 100m and 200m freestyle) and one bronze (50m freestyle). He also broke a number of national records. His younger brother David Dunford
also performed well, winning two golds and one silver (100m backstroke, 200m backstroke and 50m backstroke).
His success in 2006 earned him second place in the Kenyan Sportsman of the Year award
, behind Alex Kipchirchir
, one of Kenya's many world-class runners. His brother David Dunford was selected as the Most Promising Sportsman at the same awards.
Dunford participated in several races at the 2007 World Championships
in Melbourne
, Australia
. His best result was reaching a 100m butterfly final, where he finished eighth. On his way to final, he clocked 51.85, a new African record
to beat Commonwealth Games Champion, Ryan Pini
of Papua New Guinea
in a swim-off for the 8th spot in the final. He also became the first Kenyan swimmer to qualify for the Olympics, gaining qualification for the 2008 Summer Olympics
in Beijing
, China
in the 100m butterfly as well as the 100m freestyle. On earlier occasions, some Kenyan swimmers have participated in the Olympics, but only on the IOC swimming wild card
.
At the 2007 All-Africa Games
in Algiers
Jason Dunford won three gold medals (50m, 100m and 200m butterfly), two silver (50m freestyle, 100m backstroke) and three bronze (50m backstroke, 100m and 200 m freestyle). For his efforts at these games and the Melbourne World Championships, Dunford was awarded the Safaricom Kenyan Sportsman of the Year Award for 2007.
in Manchester
in April 2008 and reached the 100m butterfly final, finishing 8th.
At the 2008 Olympics in he competed in two events. In the 100 metre freestyle heats, he finished 24th overall, missing the semifinals. He did, however, set a new national record of 49.06. In his main event, the 100 metre butterfly, he qualified for the semifinals, posting a new Olympic record
of 51.14, and simultaneously bettering his own African record.
The previous Olympic record (51.25) was set by Michael Phelps
at the 2004 Olympics. Dunford's Olympic record did not last long; just a few minutes later Milorad Čavić
of Serbia recorded 50.76, followed by two other swimmers (including Phelps) who beat Dunford's time. He reached the final and finished fifth by swimming 51.47.
In December 2008 at the African Swimming Championships
in Johannesburg
he won three gold and two silver medals.
His first major competition in 2009 was the Summer Universiade
in Belgrade
, where he won the 100 metres butterfly race in a time of 51.29s. In the semifinals he had swum a new Universiade record 50.85s, also beating the African record again. At the 50 metres butterfly race he got silver behind Jernej Godec
of Slovenia
, but was fastest in the semifinals, his time 23.09s being new Universiade record, still in force after the final. Dunford was also the bronze medalist over 100 metres freestyle in a time of 48.73.
At the 2009 World Championships
he finished sixth in the 50m butterfly
and 100m butterfly
races. In the 100 fly semifinals he set a new African and Commonwealth record (50.78s). Dunford graduated from the Stanford University in 2009 with BSc degree in Human biology, but studies for Masters degree in Earth Systems at the same university
winning two gold medals in butterfly and two freestyle silver medals.
He competed at the 2010 Commonwealth Games
taking the 50m butterfly gold medal. It was the first swimming medal for Kenya at the Commonwealth Games
Then at the All Africa Games in Maputo he won gold medals in the 50 and 100m butterfly, silvers in the 50m backstroke, 100m freestyle and 200m butterfly and a bronze in the 50m freestyle .
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
. He is predominantly a butterfly and freestyle sprinter. He has won gold medals at the Commonwealth Games
Commonwealth Games
The Commonwealth Games is an international, multi-sport event involving athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The event was first held in 1930 and takes place every four years....
, Universiade
Universiade
The Universiade is an International multi-sport event, organized for university athletes by the International University Sports Federation . The name is a combination of the words "University" and "olympiad"...
, All-Africa Games
All-Africa Games
The All-Africa Games, sometimes called the African Games or the Pan African Games, are a regional multi-sport event held every four years, organized by the Supreme Council for Sport in Africa...
and African Championships
African Swimming Championships
African Swimming Championships are the African championships in the sport of Swimming. It is organised by the African Swimming Confederation and held biennially....
, and reached finals at Olympics, World Championships and Short Course World Championships. He has also held African
African records in swimming
The African records in swimming are the fastest times ever by a swimmer representing an African country. These records are ratified by CANA, the African Swimming Confederation...
, Universiade and Olympic records. Many of his achievements are unprecedented in the history of Kenyan swimming.
Family life
Jason is the son of Martin and Geraldine Dunford. Martin Dunford is the Chairman of the Tamarind Group, which owns the world famous Carnivore RestaurantCarnivore Restaurant
Carnivore is an open-air restaurant in the Langata suburb of Nairobi, Kenya. Carnivore's specialty is meat, and features an all-you-can-eat meat buffet. They serve a wide variety of meat and are famous for their game meat. It is a popular tourist destination....
, Geraldine, granddaughter to Abraham Block, the founder of Block Hotels is the marketing executive. Martin was the vice chairman of the Kenya Swimming Federation and the patron of the Nairobi Amateur Swimming Association (NASA).
He has two brothers, Robert and David
David Dunford
David Harvey Dunford is a swimmer from Kenya who specializes in sprint freestyle. He is an African champion, Commonwealth Games finalist and the second Kenyan swimmer in history to qualify for the Olympics Games...
. The elder, Robert, is a graduate of the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
where he was captain of the rugby
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
club. The younger brother, David, is also a swimmer and represents Kenya. The family belongs to the white minority in Kenya
Whites in Kenya
There is a minor but relatively prominent group of white people in Kenya, mainly descendants of British settlers from the colonial era.-History:...
.
Early career
Jason Dunford started swimming at the age of five and it was while at Kenton College, a primary school in Nairobi, under coach Andrew Nderu, that he began to establish himself on the age group scene in Nairobi. At the age of 13, the talented swimmer moved to study at Marlborough CollegeMarlborough College
Marlborough College is a British co-educational independent school for day and boarding pupils, located in Marlborough, Wiltshire.Founded in 1843 for the education of the sons of Church of England clergy, the school now accepts both boys and girls of all beliefs. Currently there are just over 800...
(a high school) in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Dunford competed in various races at the 2004 Short Course World Championships in Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, and 2005 World Championships
Swimming at the 2005 World Aquatics Championships
The swimming events at the XI FINA World Championships took place in the Parc Jean-Drapeau in Montreal, Canada from July 24–31, 2005.The swimming portion consisted of 50 events – 25 for men and 25 for women – all of which were swum in a long-course pool...
in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, but the young swimmer failed to advance past the heats.
While at Marlborough College he met coach Peter O'Sullivan, himself a former Great Britain International Swimmer in the 400 m Individual medley. O'Sullivan had swum at the University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
, and it was he who encouraged Jason to look to college in the US to develop his swimming career. In 2005, After finishing his A-Levels, Dunford moved to Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
where he earned a swimming scholarship. In 2009, he graduated with a BA in Human biology
Human biology
Human Biology is an interdisciplinary area of study that examines humans through the influences and interplay of many diverse fields such as genetics, evolution, physiology, epidemiology, ecology, nutrition, population genetics and sociocultural influences. It is closely related to...
.
2006–2007 – Continental top
At the 2006 Short Course World Championships in ShanghaiShanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
he reached semifinals in two events: 100 metres freestyle and 100 metres butterfly. He missed the 2006 Commonwealth Games
2006 Commonwealth Games
The 2006 Commonwealth Games were held in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia between 15 March and 26 March 2006. It was the largest sporting event to be staged in Melbourne, eclipsing the 1956 Summer Olympics in terms of the number of teams competing, athletes competing, and events being held.The site...
due to exams
The 2006 African Swimming Championships in Dakar
Dakar
Dakar is the capital city and largest city of Senegal. It is located on the Cap-Vert Peninsula on the Atlantic coast and is the westernmost city on the African mainland...
, Senegal
Senegal
Senegal , officially the Republic of Senegal , is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north...
, marked a breakthrough moment for him as he became the first Kenyan ever to win a continental swimming medal with gold in the 100m butterfly on the first day of competition. He went on to finish the competition with two gold medals (100m butterfly and 50m backstroke), three silvers (50m butterfly, 100m and 200m freestyle) and one bronze (50m freestyle). He also broke a number of national records. His younger brother David Dunford
David Dunford
David Harvey Dunford is a swimmer from Kenya who specializes in sprint freestyle. He is an African champion, Commonwealth Games finalist and the second Kenyan swimmer in history to qualify for the Olympics Games...
also performed well, winning two golds and one silver (100m backstroke, 200m backstroke and 50m backstroke).
His success in 2006 earned him second place in the Kenyan Sportsman of the Year award
Kenyan Sports Personality of the Year
Kenyan Sport Personality of the Year Awards, also known as SOYA Awards, are annual national awards given for sports personalities and organisations in Kenya. The awards were initiated in 2004 by Paul Tergat. The awards for each year are held at the beginning of the next year Kenyan Sport...
, behind Alex Kipchirchir
Alex Kipchirchir
Alex Kipchirchir Rono is a middle distance runner from Kenya.- Career :He graduated from Litein High School. He played football and basketball when still at school and did not take up athletics until December 2001, when he met Moses Tanui who persuaded him to become runner...
, one of Kenya's many world-class runners. His brother David Dunford was selected as the Most Promising Sportsman at the same awards.
Dunford participated in several races at the 2007 World Championships
Swimming at the 2007 World Aquatics Championships
The swimming competition at the 2007 World Aquatics Championships was held in Melbourne, Australia, from 25 March to 1 April.Morning/heats sessions began at 10:00 a.m., with the evening sessions beginning at 7:00 p.m. All events were contested in a long-course pool...
in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. His best result was reaching a 100m butterfly final, where he finished eighth. On his way to final, he clocked 51.85, a new African record
African records in swimming
The African records in swimming are the fastest times ever by a swimmer representing an African country. These records are ratified by CANA, the African Swimming Confederation...
to beat Commonwealth Games Champion, Ryan Pini
Ryan Pini
Ryan John Pini is a 2-time Olympic swimmer from Papua New Guinea. He swam for PNG at the 2004 and 2008 Olympics; also serving as the PNG flagbearer in 2008...
of Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
in a swim-off for the 8th spot in the final. He also became the first Kenyan swimmer to qualify for the Olympics, gaining qualification for the 2008 Summer Olympics
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
in the 100m butterfly as well as the 100m freestyle. On earlier occasions, some Kenyan swimmers have participated in the Olympics, but only on the IOC swimming wild card
Wild card (sports)
The term wild card refers broadly to a tournament or playoff berth awarded to an individual or team that has not qualified through normal play.-International sports:...
.
At the 2007 All-Africa Games
Swimming at the 2007 All-Africa Games
The Swimming competition at the 9th All-Africa Games were held in Algiers, Algeria, 11 — 18 July 2007. 121 swimmers from 16 nations were entered into the 7-day competition.All events were swum in a 50-meter pool.- Participating nations :...
in Algiers
Algiers
' is the capital and largest city of Algeria. According to the 1998 census, the population of the city proper was 1,519,570 and that of the urban agglomeration was 2,135,630. In 2009, the population was about 3,500,000...
Jason Dunford won three gold medals (50m, 100m and 200m butterfly), two silver (50m freestyle, 100m backstroke) and three bronze (50m backstroke, 100m and 200 m freestyle). For his efforts at these games and the Melbourne World Championships, Dunford was awarded the Safaricom Kenyan Sportsman of the Year Award for 2007.
2008–2009 – Olympics and Universiade
He participated the 2008 FINA Short Course World Championships2008 FINA Short Course World Championships
The 9th FINA Swimming World Championships were held at the Manchester Evening News Arena, in Manchester, England April 9 – April 13 2008....
in Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
in April 2008 and reached the 100m butterfly final, finishing 8th.
At the 2008 Olympics in he competed in two events. In the 100 metre freestyle heats, he finished 24th overall, missing the semifinals. He did, however, set a new national record of 49.06. In his main event, the 100 metre butterfly, he qualified for the semifinals, posting a new Olympic record
Olympic record
Olympic records are the best performances in a specific event in that event's history in either the Summer Olympic Games or the Winter Olympic Games...
of 51.14, and simultaneously bettering his own African record.
The previous Olympic record (51.25) was set by Michael Phelps
Michael Phelps
Michael Fred Phelps is an American swimmer who has, overall, won 16 Olympic medals—six gold and two bronze at Athens in 2004, and eight gold at Beijing in 2008, becoming the most successful athlete at both of these Olympic Games editions...
at the 2004 Olympics. Dunford's Olympic record did not last long; just a few minutes later Milorad Čavić
Milorad Cavic
Milorad Čavić is an American-born Serbian swimmer.-Swimming career:...
of Serbia recorded 50.76, followed by two other swimmers (including Phelps) who beat Dunford's time. He reached the final and finished fifth by swimming 51.47.
In December 2008 at the African Swimming Championships
2008 African Swimming Championships
The 9th African Swimming Championships were held at Ellis Park, Johannesburg, South Africa from December 1-7, 2008.-Participants:Swimmers from 18 countries competed at the 2008 African Swimming Championships:- Medal standings :- Men's events :...
in Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
he won three gold and two silver medals.
His first major competition in 2009 was the Summer Universiade
Swimming at the 2009 Summer Universiade
The Swimming competition of the 25th Summer Universiade was held at the Tašmajdan Sports Centre in Belgrade, Serbia, 5–11 July 2009. All events were contested in a long course pool....
in Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
, where he won the 100 metres butterfly race in a time of 51.29s. In the semifinals he had swum a new Universiade record 50.85s, also beating the African record again. At the 50 metres butterfly race he got silver behind Jernej Godec
Jernej Godec
Jernej Godec is a freestyle and butterfly swimmer from Slovenia, who competed for his native country at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece and the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China....
of Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
, but was fastest in the semifinals, his time 23.09s being new Universiade record, still in force after the final. Dunford was also the bronze medalist over 100 metres freestyle in a time of 48.73.
At the 2009 World Championships
Swimming at the 2009 World Aquatics Championships
The swimming competition of the 2009 World Aquatics Championships was held at the Foro Italico sports complex in Rome, Italy, from Sunday 26 July – Sunday 2 August 2009.-Events:...
he finished sixth in the 50m butterfly
Swimming at the 2009 World Aquatics Championships – Men's 50m butterfly
The heats for the men's 50 metre butterfly race at the 2009 World Championships occurred on Sunday, 26 July at the Foro Italico in Rome, Italy.-Records:-Heats:-Semifinals:-Final:-External links:***...
and 100m butterfly
Swimming at the 2009 World Aquatics Championships – Men's 100m butterfly
The men's 100 metre butterfly event at the 2009 World Aquatics Championships took place between 31 July – 1 August at the Foro Italico. Both the heats and semifinals were held on 31 July with the heats being held in the morning session and the semifinals being held in the evening session...
races. In the 100 fly semifinals he set a new African and Commonwealth record (50.78s). Dunford graduated from the Stanford University in 2009 with BSc degree in Human biology, but studies for Masters degree in Earth Systems at the same university
2010– – Commonwealth Games
Dunford continued his continental medal hunting at 2010 African Swimming Championships2010 African Swimming Championships
The 10th African Swimming Championships were held September 13–19, 2010 in Casablanca, Morroco. The event was hosted by the Royal Moroccan Swimming Federation...
winning two gold medals in butterfly and two freestyle silver medals.
He competed at the 2010 Commonwealth Games
2010 Commonwealth Games
The 2010 Commonwealth Games, officially known as the XIX Commonwealth Games, were held in Delhi, India, from 3 to 14 October 2010. A total of 6,081 athletes from 71 Commonwealth nations and dependencies competed in 21 sports and 272 events, making it the largest Commonwealth Games till date...
taking the 50m butterfly gold medal. It was the first swimming medal for Kenya at the Commonwealth Games
2011– – World Championships and All Africa Games
Dunford placed 4th in the 100m butterfly and 7th in the 50m butterfly at the Shanghai World Championships .Then at the All Africa Games in Maputo he won gold medals in the 50 and 100m butterfly, silvers in the 50m backstroke, 100m freestyle and 200m butterfly and a bronze in the 50m freestyle .