Mark Versfeld
Encyclopedia
Mark Versfeld is a former backstroke
swimmer from Canada
, who competed for his native country from 1995 to 2001. At the 2000 Summer Olympics
in Sydney, Australia he finished in 25th position in the Men's 100m Backstroke. He won the same event and the 200m Backstroke two years earlier, at the 1998 Commonwealth Games
in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. At the 1998 Aquatic World Championships in Perth, Australia he won a silver in the 100 backstroke and bronze in the 200m backstroke, breaking a Commonwealth Record in the process. He was named Canadian Male Aquatic Athlete of the Year in 1998. After moving to Perth, Western Australia
in 2004 he took up surfing and swim coaching. He was part of the winning team in the Rottnest Swim in 2006, along with Australian Olympians William Kirby
, Todd Pearson
and Duncan Armstrong
. He lost part of his index finger whilst surfing at knee high Leighton Beach, and he lost his board whilst surfing at Yallingup. Since returning to Vancouver, British Columbia, he has begun a career as a professional speedway driver, racing bi-monthly at the Saratoga
speedway on Vancouver Island
for team Wood Duck.
Backstroke
The backstroke, also sometimes called the back crawl, is one of the four swimming styles regulated by FINA, and the only regulated style swum on the back. This has the advantage of easy breathing, but the disadvantage of swimmers not being able to see where they are going. It is also the only...
swimmer from Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, who competed for his native country from 1995 to 2001. At the 2000 Summer Olympics
Swimming at the 2000 Summer Olympics
At the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia, 32 swimming events were contested, between September 15–23, 2000. There was a total of 954 participants from 150 countries competing.-Medal table:-Men:...
in Sydney, Australia he finished in 25th position in the Men's 100m Backstroke. He won the same event and the 200m Backstroke two years earlier, at the 1998 Commonwealth Games
1998 Commonwealth Games
The 1998 XVI Commonwealth Games were held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 11 September to 21 September 1998 making it the first Asian country to act as host and the last Commonwealth Games for the 20th century. A record 70 nations supplied 3638 athletes...
in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. At the 1998 Aquatic World Championships in Perth, Australia he won a silver in the 100 backstroke and bronze in the 200m backstroke, breaking a Commonwealth Record in the process. He was named Canadian Male Aquatic Athlete of the Year in 1998. After moving to Perth, Western Australia
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
in 2004 he took up surfing and swim coaching. He was part of the winning team in the Rottnest Swim in 2006, along with Australian Olympians William Kirby
William Kirby
Image sourcesPortraits of the Honorary Members of the Ipswich Museum ....
, Todd Pearson
Todd Pearson
Todd Pearson is an Australian swimming champion, who was born in Geraldton, Western Australia. He started swimming on the advice of a doctor treating his asthma. Pearson was vice captain of Hale School in 1994 where he spent time in Faulkner House And St George House.He is no stranger to the...
and Duncan Armstrong
Duncan Armstrong
Duncan John D'Arcy Armstrong, OAM, is a former Australian swimmer and Olympic gold medalist.Armstrong was a freestyle swimmer in international competition during the 1980s, who won gold in the 200-metre freestyle at the 1988 Seoul Olympics...
. He lost part of his index finger whilst surfing at knee high Leighton Beach, and he lost his board whilst surfing at Yallingup. Since returning to Vancouver, British Columbia, he has begun a career as a professional speedway driver, racing bi-monthly at the Saratoga
Saratoga
-United States::*Saratoga, California, city in Santa Clara County*Saratoga, former name of Yeomet, California*Saratoga, Indiana, town in Randolph County*Saratoga, Minnesota*Saratoga, Nebraska Territory, boom and bust town now inside of Omaha, Nebraska...
speedway on Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island is a large island in British Columbia, Canada. It is one of several North American locations named after George Vancouver, the British Royal Navy officer who explored the Pacific Northwest coast of North America between 1791 and 1794...
for team Wood Duck.