Darian Roy Townsend (born 28 August 1984) was a competition swimmer who swam for the University of Arizona and a 2004 Athens Olympic gold medalist in the 4x100 meter freestyle relay who competed for South Africa. He became a U.S. citizen during the summer of 2014 and has subsequently represented the United States in international events. After retiring from elite competition, he later worked as a swimming coach in the Tucson area.

2004 Athens Olympic gold

At the age of 19 on August 15, 2004, Townsend was a member of the South African men's 4×100 metre freestyle relay team that won gold and broke the world record at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece. The Olympic 4x100 meter Olympic gold medal South African relay team consisted of Roland Schoeman, Lyndon Ferns, Townsend, and Ryk Neethling.

Townsend competed in the 2008 Beijing Olympics for South Africa in the 200 meter freestyle, 4x100 and 4x200 meter freestyle relays, the 200 meter individual medley and the 4x100 meter medley relay.

International competition

In international competition, Townsend won five medals including two golds at the All Africa games in Algiers and Maputo in 2007 and 2011 in freestyle and medley events.

In 2017, Darian retired from competitive swimming in 2017, though in one of his last events as an elite swimmer, he competed in the 2017 Midmar Mile.

Townsend has served as Head Coach of the YMCA West Side Silver Fins. He has also served as the Senior Aquatics Director for the Southwest Valley Family YMCA in Phoenix, Arizona.

He has been active in United States Masters Swimming. He has held over 25 Master’s age group-based World Records. In 2018, Townsend was recognized as one of Swimming World magazine’s Top 12 World Masters Swimmers of the Year, having previously received the honor in both 2014 and 2016.

See also

  • List of Commonwealth Games medallists in swimming (men)
  • List of University of Florida Olympians
  • List of Olympic medalists in swimming (men)
  • World record progression 200 metres individual medley
  • World record progression 4 × 100 metres freestyle relay

References

  • Olympedia Biography, Darian Townsend
  • University of Florida Gaters Swimming Roster, Darian Townsend, 2005-6
  • University of Arizona Sports Hall of Fame, Four Former Wildcats Inducted into South African Sports Hall of Fame, Darien Townsend