Anthony Conrad Nesty was born on November 25,1967 and is a former competition swimmer from Suriname who was an Olympic gold medallist in the 100-metre butterfly event in 1988.
21 Facts About Anthony Nesty
1.
2.
Anthony Nesty is currently the head coach of the Florida Gators men's and women's swim team at the University of Florida, where he attended school.
3.
In September 2023, Nesty was named the Head Coach for the US Men's Swimming team at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
4.
Anthony Nesty was born in Port of Spain in 1967, the youngest of five children in his family.
5.
Anthony Nesty's family migrated to Suriname when he was seven months old, and he started swimming at the age of 5.
6.
Anthony Nesty trained and competed in Suriname and the Caribbean through the beginning of his teenage years.
7.
Anthony Nesty represented Suriname along with his sister, Pauline, at the 1983 Pan American Games.
8.
Anthony Nesty returned to international competition at the 1987 Pan American Games in Indianapolis, Indiana, winning a gold medal in the 100-metre butterfly and a bronze medal in the 200-metre butterfly.
9.
At the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, Korea, Anthony Nesty edged American favorite Matt Biondi by one one-hundredth of a second to win the 100-metre butterfly; he finished the event in 53.00 seconds and Biondi in 53.01.
10.
Anthony Nesty is the only Olympic medal winner from Suriname and after winning his Olympic gold medal, he was unbeaten in the 100-metre butterfly event for three years.
11.
Anthony Nesty was the first black male athlete and only the second black athlete to win an individual Olympic medal in swimming following Enith Brigitha at the 1976 Summer Olympics, and only the second South American swimmer to win an Olympic gold medal after Alberto Zorrilla in the 1928 Summer Olympics.
12.
Anthony Nesty's victory in Seoul was a momentous social and political event for Afro-Caribbeans.
13.
Anthony Nesty won gold medals in the 100-metre butterfly at the Goodwill Games in 1990 and the FINA World Aquatics Championships in 1991.
14.
Anthony Nesty attempted to defend his 1988 Olympic gold medal in the 100-metre butterfly at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain, but finished with a third-place bronze.
15.
At the 2008 Summer Olympics Parade of Nations of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, while long retired from competition as an athlete himself, Anthony Nesty was invited to be Suriname's flag bearer at the opening ceremony.
16.
Anthony Nesty was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame as an "Honor Swimmer" in 1998, and the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame as a "Gator Great" in 2002.
17.
Anthony Nesty graduated from the University of Florida with his bachelor's degree in 1994.
18.
Anthony Nesty was named the Assistant Men's Coach for University of Florida in 1998 and associate head coach for the Florida Gators men's swimming team in 2006.
19.
Notable swimmers currently under Anthony Nesty's direction include Katie Ledecky, Bobby Finke, and Kieran Smith.
20.
In June 2021, Anthony Nesty was named Assistant Coach to the US Men's Olympic Swim Team.
21.
In September 2023, Anthony Nesty was named the Head Coach for the US Men's team at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France, with Todd DeSorbo as Women's Head Coach.