Mark Versfeld Athlete
Mark Versfeld (born June 13, 1976 in Edmonton, Alberta) is a former backstroke swimmer from Canada, who competed for his native country from 1995 to 2001. At the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia he finished in 25th position in the Men's 100m Backstroke. He won the same event and the 200m Backstroke two years earlier, at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. At the 1998 Aquatic World Championships in Perth, Australia he won a silver in the 100 backstroke and bronze in the 200m backstroke, breaking a Commonwealth Record in the process. He was named Canadian Male Aquatic Athlete of the Year in 1998. After moving to Perth, Western Australia in 2004 he took up surfing and swim coaching. He was part of the winning team in the Rottnest Swim in 2006, along with Australian Olympians Bill Kirby, Todd Pearson and Duncan Armstrong. He lost part of his index finger whilst surfing at knee high Leighton Beach, and he lost his board whilst surfing at Yallingup. Since returning to Vancouver, British Columbia, he has begun a career as a professional speedway driver, racing bi-monthly at the Saratoga speedway on Vancouver Island for team Wood Duck.