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August 17, 2004 11:29 am

S. African swim record has U.S. roots

By KEVIN TRESOLINI

Gannett News Service

ATHENS - Frank Busch found his interests both delightfully and distressingly split Sunday night at the Aquatic Centre outdoor pool for the Olympic 4 x 100-meter freestyle relay.

The University of Arizona swim coach and United States Olympic women's team assistant couldn't help but enjoy how it turned out, though.

The South African team that included three of Busch's current or former Wildcats - Roland Schoeman, Lyndon Ferns and Ryk Neethling - not only won the gold medal but did so in world-record time (3:13.17).

The U.S. was well back in the third, which was a disappointment. But the performance by the South African team, which also included Darian Townsend on the third leg, was tremendously satisfying for Busch, who came to Tucson as Arizona coach in 1989.

Busch was asked about his unique Olympic perspective.

Question: Were you torn, being so keenly interested in two competing teams in the same race?

Answer: "It was difficult. It was a high and a low at the same moment. You're pulling for your country. But I've been together with these guys - Ryk for eight years, Roland for six years, Lyndon for two years - so I was really excited for them because they've been through a lot and they've had some great times, but they've had some rough times, too. They've really hung in there together as a group of men, and what they did was just phenomenal."

Q: Did you expect them to swim a world-record time?

A: "I can't say I'm surprised because we had talked about this for a long time, what it was going to take and what opportunity was there. We really needed the fourth guy (Townsend, who attends college in South Africa). We didn't know who that person was going to be, and Darian was obviously the perfect fit."

Q: Anyone impress you in particular?

A: "Lyndon, the young one (he's 20). This is Lyndon's first really big race. He went to world championships last year on this relay, but he had a big breakthrough this year. Then, coming here and going second on the relay and widening the gap ... that was an awesome thing. He swam a great leg."

Q: What about Ryk's anchor leg, a 47.91, that brought the team in under the record?

A: "If Ryk didn't swim as fast as he swam, they, obviously, wouldn't have the world record. What makes a great relay is timing for everything, and I'm not just talking about relay takeoffs. I'm talking about people jelling at the same time. That's the only way you can get world records anymore. You have to have talent and be on the same page at the same time. A prime example is when the Aussies set the (previous) world record (3:13.67) in 2000 on the very first night of the meet in Sydney. They beat an awesome American team. The guy who led off did so in a world-record time, and that just set the tone and everybody else rose to the occasion. This was a case where Roland `went swimming,' as we say, and he just set the tone for the rest of the guys."

Q: What does this mean for Arizona?

A: "This is very special for Arizona because these kids have really been adopted by the Arizona family in ways you could never imagine. Our program has been so well supported by the community and the alumni. It's why we've gotten better and better and better, because of that kind of network. So when a guy comes to our school, no matter where he's from, whether it's another state or another country, they are just embraced by the people there. Swimming and diving there is something they have a lot of pride in, and it makes me feel good that we've been able to establish that."

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Ryk (pronounced RAKE) Neethling, the 26-year-old from Bloemfontein, South Africa, anchored Sunday's 4 x 100-meter relay effort. He was NCAA Swimmer of the Year in 1999 at Arizona.

Question: With all the fanfare, how do you put the world record behind you to focus on your other races?

Answer: "I don't think you should forget about it. You should use it to your advantage. The support we've been getting from South Africa has been absolutely amazing, so I'm using that to my advantage. I want to keep this feeling as long as I can. It's unbelievable."

Q: What do you think the reaction has been like in South Africa?

A: "I have a hard time assessing what it's like back home, but I got 600 e-mails on my Web site (Monday), so I think it's pretty significant."

Q: Did the world-record time surprise you?

A: "I thought we had it in us. But once you dream about something for so long, then it happens, there's still some surprise to it."

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