Florida State University Athletics
Florida State Athletics Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 2004
At the ACC Championship his freshman year, Brendon Dedekind won the 50 and 100 free and was on the record setting 200 free relay team. He went on to be named ACC Rookie of the Year, qualified for the NCAA's in Texas and he was just getting started. When he realized he might have a shot at the '96 Olympics, he returned home and qualified on the South African Olympic team. At the Olympics, Dedekind surprised his country and fellow swimmers as he qualified for the finals of the 50 free and finished fifth.
The next season, Dedekind made it to the '97 NCAA Championships at the University of Minnesota. He qualified for the 50 and 100 free and the 100 breast and made it his goal not only to make the finals, but also to win the events. Dedekind became the first swimmer in FSU history that night, to garner three All-American honors in the same year with his top-five finishes in three events. Brendon also swam the fastest heat of the 50 free in NCAA history at the meet. The next season, the South African became only the second swimmer in FSU history to win an individual NCAA title taking first in the 50 free. And in his senior year as a Seminole, Dedekind took another NCAA title but this time in the 100 breast.
Brendon's international accolades include gold medalist at the Goodwill games, Pan Pacific Swimming Championship and 7th All-African Games. He has also won many silver and bronze medals from the international meets. He completed his FSU career as the only Seminole to ever reach the finals of three individual events at one NCAA competition and the only FSU swimmer to ever finish in the Top 10 individual scorers.
The 24-time All-American completed his degree in engineering from FSU in 1999 while maintaining a dean's list status.
