Brenton Rickard (born 20 June 1983) is an Australian former competitive swimmer who specialized in the breaststroke. He represented Australia in international competitions during the early 2000s, most notably at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.
Early life and education
Rickard was born in Adelaide, South Australia. He attended Aquinas College and later pursued higher education at the University of South Australia, earning a Bachelor of Education with a focus on physical education.
Swimming career
- International debut: Rickard first appeared on the senior international stage at the 2005 World Aquatics Championships in Montreal, where he placed fourth in the 100 m breaststroke.
- World Championships: At the 2007 World Aquatics Championships in Melbourne, he won bronze medals in both the 50 m and 100 m breaststroke events.
- Olympic Games: At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Rickard contributed to Australia’s silver‑medal performance in the 4 × 100‑metre medley relay, swimming the breaststroke leg in the heats. He also competed in the individual 100 m breaststroke, finishing fifth in the final.
- Commonwealth Games: He secured gold in the 100 m breaststroke and a silver in the 50 m breaststroke at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi.
- National competition: Rickard won multiple Australian national titles in breaststroke events throughout his career and set Australian records in the 50 m and 100 m breaststroke.
Retirement and post‑competitive work
Rickard retired from elite competition in 2012. Following retirement, he has been involved in coaching and youth development programs, working with Swimming Australia and local clubs in South Australia. He has also participated in charitable activities, including campaigns promoting water safety and athlete mental health.
Personal best times (long course metres)
- 50 m breaststroke: 27.24 seconds (Australian record, 2009)
- 100 m breaststroke: 58.90 seconds (Australian record, 2009)
Recognition
Rickard’s contributions to Australian swimming have been acknowledged with honors from state sporting bodies, and he has been inducted into the South Australian Hall of Fame for swimming.
See also
- List of Australian Olympic swimmers
- Australian records in swimming
References
- Official results from the International Swimming Federation (FINA)
- Australian Olympic Committee athlete profile for Brenton Rickard
- Commonwealth Games Federation athlete database
External links
- [Brenton Rickard – Swimming Australia profile] (archived)
- [Olympic.org athlete profile] (archived)