Brett Petersen

{{Infobox swimmer

| name = Brett Petersen

| image =

| image_size =

| caption =

| fullname = Brett Petersen

| nicknames =

| national_team = {{RSA}}

| strokes = Breaststroke

| club =

| coach = Neil Harper (US)

| collegeteam = Florida State University (US)

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1976|9|9}}

| birth_place = East London, South Africa

| death_date =

| death_place =

| height = {{convert|1.91|m|ftin|0|abbr=on}}

| weight = {{convert|95|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}

| medaltemplates =

| show-medals = yes

| updated =

}}

Brett Petersen (born 9 September 1976) is a South African former swimmer, who specialised in breaststroke events.{{cite sports-reference|title = Brett Petersen|url = https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/pe/brett-petersen-1.html|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200418031210/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/pe/brett-petersen-1.html|url-status = dead|archive-date = 18 April 2020|access-date = 2 June 2013}} He won a gold medal in the 100 m breaststroke at the 1999 All-Africa Games, and later became a top 8 finalist in the same distance at the 2000 Summer Olympics. While studying in the United States, Petersen was part of the 200-yard medley relay team that claimed a top finish at the 1998 Atlantic Coast Conference Swimming Championships.{{cite news|title=Seminoles Cruise Through 1998–99 Season|url=http://www.seminoles.com/sports/m-swim/spec-rel/120299aab.html|publisher=Florida State Seminoles|date=2 December 1999|accessdate=2 June 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130630073156/http://www.seminoles.com/sports/m-swim/spec-rel/120299aab.html|archive-date=30 June 2013|url-status=dead}} Petersen also played for the Florida State Seminoles swimming and diving team under head coach Neil Harper, and later became a graduate of management information systems at the Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida.

Petersen established his swimming history at the 1999 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in Sydney, where he placed fourth in the 100 m breaststroke, just a small fraction outside the podium.{{cite news|last=Thomas |first=Stephen |title=1999 Pan Pacific Championships: Day 2 |url=http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/984.asp |work=Swimming World |date=23 August 1999 |accessdate=3 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927200534/http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/984.asp |archivedate=27 September 2007 }} On that same year, Petersen powered home with a gold medal for South Africa in the 100 m breaststroke (1:02.63) at the All-Africa Games in Johannesburg.{{cite news|last=Smith|first=Neville|title=All Africa Games – Day 1|url=http://www.swimnews.com/News/view/93|publisher=Swim News|date=12 September 1999|accessdate=2 June 2013}}

At the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Petersen competed only in two swimming events.{{cite news|title=South Africa Announces Olympic Squad|url=http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/1378.asp|work=Swimming World|date=11 April 2000|accessdate=2 June 2013|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130615050142/http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/1378.asp|archivedate=15 June 2013}} He established a South African record and achieved a FINA A-standard of 1:01.62 from the Olympic trials in Johannesburg.{{cite web|title=Swimming – Men's 100m Breaststroke Startlist (Heat 8)|url=http://www.omegatiming.com/File/Download?id=000100060013000000FFFFFFFFFFFF00|work=Sydney 2000|publisher=Omega Timing|accessdate=23 April 2013}}{{cite news|last=Lemke|first=Gary|title=Olympic selection a triumph for wisdom|url=http://www.iol.co.za/sport/olympic-selection-a-triumph-for-wisdom-1.337328?|work=Independent Online|date=9 April 2000|accessdate=2 June 2013}} In the 100 m breaststroke, Petersen finished seventh in a time of 1:01.63, holding off Switzerland's Remo Lütolf by a quarter of a second (0.25).{{cite web|title=Sydney 2000: Swimming – Men's 100m Breaststroke Final |url=http://www.la84foundation.org/6oic/OfficialReports/2000/Masters/sw/SWresults.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110819181023/http://la84foundation.org/6oic/OfficialReports/2000/Masters/sw/SWresults.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=19 August 2011|work=Sydney 2000 |publisher=LA84 Foundation |page=237 |accessdate=23 April 2013 }}{{cite news|last=Lemke|first=Gary|title=Penny third as Quann triumphs|url=http://www.iol.co.za/sport/penny-third-as-quann-triumphs-1.342371|work=Independent Online|date=18 September 2000|accessdate=2 June 2013}}{{cite news|last=Whitten |first=Phillip |title=Olympic Day 2 Finals |url=http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/1792.asp |work=Swimming World |date=17 September 2000 |accessdate=23 May 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927195839/http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/1792.asp |archivedate=27 September 2007 }} Petersen also teamed up with Simon Thirsk, Nicholas Folker, and Theo Verster in the 4 × 100 m medley relay. Swimming a breaststroke leg in heat two, Petersen recorded a split of 1:02.51, but the South Africans finished the race in fourth place and thirteenth overall with a final time of 3:42.44.{{cite web|title=Sydney 2000: Swimming – Men's 4×100m Medley Relay Heat 2 |url=http://www.la84foundation.org/6oic/OfficialReports/2000/Masters/sw/SWresults.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110819181023/http://la84foundation.org/6oic/OfficialReports/2000/Masters/sw/SWresults.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=19 August 2011|work=Sydney 2000 |publisher=LA84 Foundation |page=347 |accessdate=23 April 2013 }}

At the 2001 Goodwill Games in Brisbane, Petersen fought off a challenge from Australia's Simon Cowley to pick up a silver medal in the 50 m breaststroke (28.72).{{cite news|title=Goodwill Games: Aussie Men Drub Euros, 113–35; World Squeaks by USA|url=http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/2842.asp|work=Swimming World|date=31 August 2001|accessdate=2 June 2013}}

The following year, at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, England, Petersen failed to receive a single medal in any of his individual events, finishing fourth in the 50 m breaststroke (28.64) and fifth in the 100 m breaststroke (1:02.14).{{cite news|title=England Celebrates Its Greatest Day Ever in International Competition, Wins 4 Gold on Day 3 of Commonwealth Games |url=http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/4022.asp |work=Swimming World |date=1 August 2002 |accessdate=2 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203054814/http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/4022.asp |archivedate=3 December 2013 }}{{cite news|last=Whitten|first=Phillip|title=Welsh Wins 100 Back at Commonwealth Games, Stymies Thorpe's Bid for 7 Gold: Norris Wins Third Gold|url=http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/4027.asp|work=Swimming World|date=3 August 2002|accessdate=2 June 2013|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130615224532/http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/4027.asp|archivedate=15 June 2013}}