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Roland SCHOEMAN
Sport Swimming
NOC South Africa   
GenderMen
Born03 Jul 1980 in Pretoria, SAF
Height1.91 m
Weight 85 kg
 Human Interest 
Further Personal Information
Higher education
 Communications, Psychology - University of Arizona: Tucson, AZ, USA
General Interest
Injuries
 He tore a muscle in his right arm while on holiday in South Africa in December 2011. (theswimmerscircle.com, 27 Dec 2011)

He suffered a tear to his pectoral muscle in 2010. (theswimmerscircle.com, 27 Dec 2011)

He had a back problem at the 2008 World Short Course Championships in Manchester, England. (gulfnews.com, 25 Nov 2010)

He was troubled by shoulder tendinitis in the lead-up to the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, VIC, Australia. (gulfnews.com, 25 Nov 2010; news24.com, 14 Mar 2006)

He had a stress fracture in his foot in 2002. (news24.com, 14 Mar 2006; gulfnews.com, 25 Nov 2010)
Sport Specific Information
Why this sport?
 He took up swimming after he was dropped from opening the bowling for his high school cricket team. He was also keen to meet a girl who was a part of the swimming team. "She was in high school with me and on the local swim team. I thought if I joined the team I'd be able to show her I was interested in her. To cut a long story short, we ended up dating for a couple of months and she moved away. That was the end of the relationship, but there was something in swimming that I could identify with."
General Interest
Hero / Idol
 British rower Steve Redgrave, South African statesman Nelson Mandela. (rolandschoeman.co.za, 2016)
Awards and honours
 He was named the Times Newspaper's South African Athlete of the Decade in 2009. (vrp.co.za, 14 Oct 2010)

He won Swimming South Africa's Athlete of the Year award for four consecutive years between 2004 and 2007. (vrp.co.za, 14 Oct 2010)

In 2007 he received the Order of Ikhamanga in Silver at a National Orders Ceremony in Pretoria, South Africa. (web.archive.org, 2012)

He was named Swimming World Magazine's African Swimmer of the Year from 2004 to 2007. (vrp.co.za, 14 Oct 2010)

He was named South Africa Sports Star of the Year in 2004. (rolandschoeman.co.za, 2016)

In 2004 he was inducted in the University of Pretoria Sport Hall of Fame in South Africa. (web.archive.org, 2008)
Sport Specific Information
When and where did you begin this sport?
 He began swimming at age 13 while attending high school.
International Debut
Year
 1998
Competing for
 South Africa
Further Personal Information
Languages
 Afrikaans, Dutch, English, French
General Interest
Nicknames
 Rocket, GT, The Blade, Showman (rolandschoeman.co.za, 2016)
Sporting philosophy / motto
 "Don't compare yourself to somebody around you. Be as good as you can be." (beautifulnews.news24.com, 26 Mar 2017)
Other information
 FURTHER EDUCATION
He studied neuro-linguistic programming coaching at Bennett Stellar University in Sedona, AZ, United States of America. (Facebook profile, 09 Aug 2017)

COACHING IN RIO
After failing to qualify as an athlete for his fifth Olympic Games in 2016, he went on to serve as the Trinidad and Tobago swimming coach at that year's Games in Rio de Janeiro. (swimswam.com, 16 Jul 2016; iol.co.za, 17 Apr 2016)

ASTHMA
He has suffered from asthma since childhood and has used swimming as a way of strengthening his lungs. He had a lung test at the 2004 Olympic Games, which revealed the extent that the illness affected his airways. "The worst is I'd already got so used to living with asthma, I didn't even realise how bad it really was. Asthma tends to run in families but it doesn't mean the end of your dreams." (timeslive.co.za, 11 Aug 2011; news24.com, 09 Oct 2010; hindustantimes.com, 02 Oct 2010; health24.com, 11 Jun 2009)
Further Personal Information
Occupation
 Coach, Motivational Speaker
General Interest
Hobbies
 Golf, music, watching films, spending time with friends. (rolandschoeman.co.za, 2016)
Further Personal Information
Residence
 Scottsdale, AZ, USA

 Competition Highlights
Olympic Games
Rank Year Venue Event Result
6 2012 London, ENG 50m Freestyle 21.80 
5 2012 London, ENG 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay 3:13.45
7 2008 Beijing, CHN 50m Freestyle 21.67
7 2008 Beijing, CHN 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay 3:12.66
1 2004 Athens, GRE 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay 3:13.17
2 2004 Athens, GRE 100m Freestyle 48.23 
3 2004 Athens, GRE 50m Freestyle 22.02 
Semifinal 2000 Sydney, NSW, AUS 50m Freestyle 22.41
Heats 2000 Sydney, NSW, AUS 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay  
World Championships
Rank Year Venue Event Result
Heats 2023 Fukuoka, JPN 50m Butterfly 24.02
50 2023 Fukuoka, JPN 50m Freestyle 22.87
Heats 2023 Fukuoka, JPN 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay  
Semifinal 2013 Barcelona, ESP 50m Butterfly 23.25
7 2013 Barcelona, ESP 50m Freestyle 21.85
Semifinal 2011 Shanghai, CHN 50m Butterfly 23.48
Semifinal 2011 Shanghai, CHN 50m Freestyle 22.42
Heat 2009 Rome, ITA 100m Freestyle 48.69
Semifinal 2009 Rome, ITA 50m Butterfly 23.18
Semifinal 2009 Rome, ITA 50m Freestyle 21.78
5 2009 Rome, ITA 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay 3:11.93
7 2007 Melbourne, VIC, AUS 100m Freestyle 48.72
1 2007 Melbourne, VIC, AUS 50m Butterfly 23.18
7 2007 Melbourne, VIC, AUS 50m Freestyle 22.16
4 2007 Melbourne, VIC, AUS 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay 3:14.77
2 2005 Montreal, CAN 100m Freestyle 48.28 
1 2005 Montreal, CAN 50m Freestyle 21.69 
1 2005 Montreal, QC, CAN 50m Butterfly 22.96
Heats 2003 Barcelona, ESP 50m Freestyle 22.74
5 2003 Barcelona, ESP 50m Butterfly 23.79
Heats 2003 Barcelona, ESP 100m Freestyle 50.43
8 2003 Barcelona, ESP 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay 3:18.79
Heats 2003 Barcelona, ESP 4 x 100m Medley Relay  
3 2001 Fukuoka, JPN 50m Freestyle 22.18
17 2001 Fukuoka, JPN 100m Freestyle 50.13
4 2001 Fukuoka, JPN 50m Butterfly 23.76
World Championships Short Course
Rank Year Venue Event Result
4 2010 Dubai, UAE 50m Breaststroke 26.41
Semifinal 2010 Dubai, UAE 50m Butterfly 22.98
Semifinal 2010 Dubai, UAE 50m Freestyle 21.57
  2002 Moscow, RUS 100m Butterfly  DNS
  2002 Moscow, RUS 50m Freestyle  DNS
  2002 Moscow, RUS 50m Butterfly  DNS
  2002 Moscow, RUS 100m Freestyle  DNS
World Cup Short Course
Rank Year Venue Event Result
7 2016 Doha, QAT 50m Freestyle 21.62
4 2016 Doha, QAT 50m Breaststroke 26.79
4 2016 Doha, QAT 50m Butterfly 22.74
4 2016 Doha, QAT 4 x 50m Freestyle Relay 1:37.73
4 2016 Doha, QAT 4 x 50m Medley Relay 1:46.91
4 2016 Dubai, UAE 50m Breaststroke 26.90
3 2016 Dubai, UAE 50m Butterfly 22.80
5 2016 Dubai, UAE 50m Freestyle 21.52
3 2016 Hong Kong, CHN 50m Breaststroke 26.73
2 2016 Hong Kong, CHN 50m Butterfly 22.79
5 2016 Hong Kong, CHN 50m Freestyle 21.59
2 2016 Singapore, SGP 50m Breaststroke 26.62
2 2016 Singapore, SGP 50m Butterfly 22.44
7 2016 Singapore, SGP 50m Freestyle 21.73
2 2016 Tokyo, JPN 50m Breaststroke 26.61
3 2016 Tokyo, JPN 50m Butterfly 22.86
3 2016 Tokyo, JPN 50m Freestyle 21.42
9 2014   Overall  
10 2014   Overall  
1 2014 Beijing, CHN 50m Breaststroke 26.87
4 2014 Beijing, CHN 50m Butterfly 23.14
3 2014 Beijing, CHN 100m Breaststroke 58.98
5 2014 Beijing, CHN 50m Freestyle 21.92
3 2014 Doha, QAT 50m Butterfly 22.69
1 2014 Doha, QAT 50m Breaststroke 26.35
5 2014 Doha, QAT 50m Freestyle 21.56
1 2014 Dubai, UAE 50m Breaststroke 26.16
2 2014 Dubai, UAE 50m Butterfly 22.51
6 2014 Dubai, UAE 50m Freestyle 21.52
1 2014 Dubai, UAE 4 x 50m Freestyle Relay 1:34.22
1 2014 Singapore, SGP 50m Breaststroke 25.86
3 2014 Singapore, SGP 50m Butterfly 22.62
2 2014 Singapore, SGP 100m Breaststroke 57.31
4 2014 Singapore, SGP 50m Freestyle 21.58
1 2014 Tokyo, JPN 50m Breaststroke 26.02
2 2014 Tokyo, JPN 50m Butterfly 22.66
7 2014 Tokyo, JPN 50m Freestyle 21.87
4 2013   Overall  
1 2013 Beijing, CHN 50m Breaststroke 25.95
2 2013 Beijing, CHN 50m Butterfly 22.37
3 2013 Beijing, CHN 50m Freestyle 21.11
1 2013 Berlin, GER 50m Breaststroke 25.65
1 2013 Berlin, GER 50m Butterfly 22.05
1 2013 Berlin, GER 50m Freestyle 20.86
1 2013 Doha, QAT 50m Breaststroke 25.89
1 2013 Doha, QAT 50m Butterfly 22.30
2 2013 Doha, QAT 50m Freestyle 21.04
4 2013 Dubai, UAE 50m Freestyle 21.46
1 2013 Dubai, UAE 50m Butterfly 22.27
1 2013 Dubai, UAE 50m Breaststroke 25.96
1 2013 Eindhoven, NED 50m Breaststroke 25.86
2 2013 Eindhoven, NED 50m Butterfly 22.22
4 2013 Eindhoven, NED 50m Freestyle 21.03
1 2013 Moscow, RUS 50m Breaststroke 25.83
1 2013 Moscow, RUS 50m Butterfly 22.36
2 2013 Moscow, RUS 50m Freestyle 21.15
1 2013 Singapore, SGP 50m Breaststroke 25.68
2 2013 Singapore, SGP 50m Butterfly 22.62
4 2013 Singapore, SGP 50m Freestyle 21.36
1 2013 Tokyo, JPN 50m Breaststroke 26.12
4 2013 Tokyo, JPN 50m Freestyle 21.24
3 2013 Tokyo, JPN 50m Butterfly 22.46
14 2012   Overall  
2 2012 Doha, QAT 50m Breaststroke 26.38
1 2012 Doha, QAT 50m Butterfly 22.34
4 2012 Doha, QAT 50m Freestyle 21.55
3 2012 Dubai, UAE 100m Freestyle 47.24
7 2012 Dubai, UAE 50m Breaststroke 27.84
3 2012 Dubai, UAE 50m Butterfly 22.94
4 2012 Dubai, UAE 50m Freestyle 21.65
3 2010   Overall  
2 2010 Beijing, CHN 50m Breaststroke 26.54
1 2010 Beijing, CHN 50m Butterfly 22.72
1 2010 Beijing, CHN 50m Freestyle 21.47
1 2010 Berlin, GER 50m Breaststroke 26.09
1 2010 Berlin, GER 50m Butterfly 22.39
1 2010 Berlin, GER 50m Freestyle 21.01
1 2010 Moscow, RUS 50m Breaststroke 26.48
3 2010 Moscow, RUS 50m Butterfly 23.03
1 2010 Moscow, RUS 50m Freestyle 21.50
2 2010 Singapore, SGP 50m Breaststroke 26.69
1 2010 Singapore, SGP 50m Butterfly 22.65
2 2010 Singapore, SGP 50m Freestyle 21.43
1 2010 Stockholm, SWE 50m Butterfly 22.49
1 2010 Stockholm, SWE 50m Breaststroke 26.34
1 2010 Stockholm, SWE 50m Freestyle 21.30
1 2010 Tokyo, JPN 50m Breaststroke 26.42
1 2010 Tokyo, JPN 50m Butterfly 22.56
2 2010 Tokyo, JPN 50m Freestyle 21.49
2 2009   Overall  
2 2009 Berlin, GER 50m Breaststroke 25.45
2 2009 Berlin, GER 50m Butterfly 21.87
1 2009 Berlin, GER 50m Freestyle 20.57
1 2009 Durban, RSA 50m Breaststroke 25.90
1 2009 Durban, RSA 50m Butterfly 22.32
2 2009 Durban, RSA 50m Freestyle 21.34
2 2009 Moscow, RUS 50m Breaststroke 25.80
1 2009 Moscow, RUS 50m Butterfly 22.33
1 2009 Moscow, RUS 50m Freestyle 20.88
1 2009 Singapore, SGP 50m Breaststroke 25.58
2 2009 Singapore, SGP 50m Butterfly 22.27
2 2009 Singapore, SGP 50m Freestyle 20.89
3 2009 Stockholm, SWE 50m Breaststroke 25.88
1 2009 Stockholm, SWE 50m Butterfly 22.08
2 2009 Stockholm, SWE 50m Freestyle 20.81
1 2007 Belo Horizonte, BRA 100m Freestyle 46.85
1 2007 Belo Horizonte, BRA 100m Individual Medley 53.13
3 2007 Belo Horizonte, BRA 50m Butterfly 23.84
1 2007 Belo Horizonte, BRA 50m Freestyle 21.38
3 2007 Berlin, GER 100m Individual Medley 53.26
2 2007 Berlin, GER 50m Freestyle 21.39
3 2007 Berlin, GER 100m Freestyle 47.20
1 2007 Durban, RSA 100m Freestyle 47.40
3 2007 Durban, RSA 50m Breaststroke 27.99
1 2007 Durban, RSA 50m Butterfly 23.45
2 2007 Durban, RSA 50m Freestyle 21.60
1 2007 Singapore, SGP 100m Freestyle 47.34
1 2007 Singapore, SGP 50m Breaststroke 27.45
1 2007 Singapore, SGP 100m Individual Medley 53.87
2 2007 Singapore, SGP 50m Butterfly 23.58
1 2007 Singapore, SGP 50m Freestyle 21.61
3 2007 Stockholm, SWE 100m Freestyle 47.50
1 2007 Stockholm, SWE 50m Butterfly 23.14
1 2004/2005 Berlin, GER 100m Freestyle 46.25
1 2004/2005 Berlin, GER 50m Butterfly 22.92
1 2004/2005 Berlin, GER 50m Freestyle 21.45
1 2004/2005 Durban, RSA 50m Breaststroke 27.26
1 2004/2005 Durban, RSA 100m Freestyle 47.12
3 2004/2005 Durban, RSA 50m Backstroke 25.33
1 2004/2005 Durban, RSA 50m Freestyle 21.61
2 2004/2005 Durban, RSA 50m Butterfly 23.54
2 2004/2005 Moscow, RUS 100m Individual Medley 53.88
2 2004/2005 Moscow, RUS 50m Freestyle 21.77
2 2004/2005 New York, NY, USA 50m Freestyle 21.52
1 2004/2005 New York, NY, USA 100m Freestyle 46.27
1 2004/2005 New York, NY, USA 50m Butterfly 23.18
2 2004/2005 New York, NY, USA 100m Individual Medley 52.23
1 2004/2005 Stockholm, SWE 100m Freestyle 46.45
1 2004/2005 Stockholm, SWE 100m Individual Medley 52.51
2 2004/2005 Stockholm, SWE 50m Butterfly 23.70
1 2004/2005 Stockholm, SWE 50m Freestyle 21.53
2 2003/2004 Durban, RSA 50m Breaststroke 26.99
1 2003/2004 Durban, RSA 100m Freestyle 47.70
2 2003/2004 Durban, RSA 50m Backstroke 24.85
1 2003/2004 Durban, RSA 50m Butterfly 23.25
2 2003/2004 Durban, RSA 100m Butterfly 52.26
1 2003/2004 Durban, RSA 50m Freestyle 21.57
2 2003/2004 New York, NY, USA 50m Breaststroke 27.27
1 2003/2004 New York, NY, USA 50m Butterfly 23.04
2 2003/2004 New York, NY, USA 100m Freestyle 47.53
2 2003/2004 New York, NY, USA 50m Freestyle 21.57
2 2002/2003 Berlin, GER 50m Butterfly 23.20
2 2002/2003 Berlin, GER 50m Freestyle 21.42
3 2002/2003 Stockholm, SWE 100m Freestyle 47.91
2 2002/2003 Stockholm, SWE 50m Butterfly 23.23
2 2002/2003 Stockholm, SWE 50m Freestyle 21.64