Kyle Van Niekerk

Class:
Senior
Position:
Sprint Freestyle
Hometown:
Johannesburg, South Africa

PRONUNCIATION

2020-21 Senior Season: Opted-out of the 2020-21 season due to concerns surrounding COVID-19 · Academic All-Big Ten.

2019-20 Junior Season: Earned a 30^th place finish in the 200 free (1:37.44) at the Big Ten Championships · placed fourth in the 200 free (1:40.66) at the Big Ten triple dual against Purdue and Northwestern · touched fifth in the 200 free (1:40.83) and sixth in the 100 free (46.87) versus USC · notched a third place finish in the 200 free (1:41.07) and a fourth place finish in the 100 free (46.43) against Hawaii · placed fourth in the 200 free (1:39.41) and fifth in the 100 free (46.05) against Wisconsin · finished third in the 200 free (1:41.53) at the Iowa dual · placed sixth in both the 100 free (46.65) and the 200 free (1:41.78) at FSU · touched first in the 400 free relay (3:01.49) and sixth in both the 100 free (46.63) and the 200 free (1:40.69) versus Florida · Academic All-Big Ten.

2018-19 Sophomore Season: Academic All-Big Ten • At Big Ten Championships, was part of the 800 free relay that placed fifth (6:22.87). • Took sixth in the 200 free (1:40.13) against Purdue and Northwestern. • Finished fourth in the 200 free (1:40.75) and fifth in the 100 free (46.20) against USC. • Placed third in the 200 free (1:40.92) and fifth in the 100 free (47.18) at the Hawaii Dual. • At the Iowa Invitational, was part of the 800 free relay that placed third (6:31.43). • Took third in the 200 free (1:41.20) at the Florida State Dual.

2017-18 Freshman Season: At the Big Ten Championships, swam with the 800 Free Relay that took fifth (6:21.95), placed forty-fourth in the 50-yard free (20.37), tied for twentieth in the 200-yard free (1:37.07), and tied for thirty-fifth in the 100-yard free (44.54) • took second in the 200-yard free (1:38.85) and third in the 100-yard free (45.64) at the Triple Dual vs Northwestern and Purdue • two third place finished in the 200-yard free (1:39.99) and in the 100-yard free (46.02) vs. Denver • finished second in the 200-yard free (1:40.86) and second in the 100-yard free (46.58) against Hawai'i and Drury • placed fifth in the 200-yard free (1:38.90) and eighth in the 100-yard free (45.02) at the Minnesota Invitational • earned sixth place finish in the 200-yard free (1:39.54) at the Quad Dual vs. Michigan, Penn State, and Wisconsin • finished first in the 200-yard free (1:39.09) and sixth in the 100-yard free (46.00) vs. Iowa • took sixth place in the 100-yard free (46.39) against Florida State.

High School: 2016 graduate of St. Stithians Boys' College • Competed in 2015 FINA World Junior Swimming Championships for Republic of South Africa • Trained with Waterborn Swimming Club • club coach Peter Williams • holds five South African age group records in 50 free, 100 free and 100 fly.