Danyon Loader

Danyon Joseph Loader ONZM (born 21 April 1975) is an Olympic champion, former world record holder swimmer from New Zealand, based in Dunedin. He remains the national record holder in the 400 and 1500 metre freestyle short course.

Danyon Loader
ONZM

Personal information
Full name	Danyon Joseph Loader
Born	(1975-04-21) 21 April 1975[1] Timaru, New Zealand[1]
Height	188 cm (6 ft 2 in)[1]
Weight	84 kg (185 lb)[1]
Sport
Country	New Zealand
Sport	Swimming
Event(s)	Freestyle, butterfly
Medal record Men’s swimming Representing  New Zealand Olympic Games 1996 Atlanta 200 m freestyle 1996 Atlanta 400 m freestyle 1992 Barcelona 200 m butterfly World Championships 1994 Rome 200 m butterfly 1994 Rome 200 m freestyle 1994 Rome 400 m freestyle Pan Pacifics 1993 Kobe 200 m butterfly 1995 Atlanta 200 m freestyle 1995 Atlanta 400 m freestyle 1993 Kobe 100 m butterfly 1993 Kobe 4x200 m freestyle 1995 Atlanta 4x100 m freestyle 1995 Atlanta 4x200 m freestyle 1997 Fukuoka 4x100 m freestyle 1997 Fukuoka 4x200 m freestyle Commonwealth Games 1994 Victoria 200 m butterfly 1994 Victoria 400 m freestyle 1994 Victoria 4x100 m freestyle 1994 Victoria 4x200 m freestyle 1994 Victoria 200 m freestyle 1998 Kuala Lumpur 4x200 m freestyle

He swam for New Zealand at two Summer Olympics (1992, 1996) and three Commonwealth Games (1990, 1994 and 1998).

At the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, he garnered a silver medal in the 200 metre butterfly. In 1996 in Atlanta, Loader won two gold medals: in the 200 and 400 metre freestyle. He set world records in the short course 200 butterfly and 400 freestyle.[2] In the 1997 New Year Honours, Loader was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to swimming,[3] and he was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 2003.[2]

In December 2012, Loader starred in an online video campaign supporting same-sex marriage, alongside New Zealand singers Anika Moa, Hollie Smith and Boh Runga, as well as former Governor-General Dame Catherine Tizard.[4]