Swimming: Loader on his way to the US

Former Olympic champion Danyon Loader will be inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in Fort Lauderdale, Texas, on Sunday.

Loader is the first New Zealand swimmer to win such honour, a recognition of his achievements at international level.

He captured two gold medals at the 1996 Olympics Games. He also won gold medals at the world championships, World Cup and grand prix meetings.

Loader's coach Duncan Laing, his mother Daphne, and Swimming New Zealand president Warwyck Dewe will also attend the ceremony. They left yesterday.

"Danyon Loader should not be considered New Zealand's best swimmer, but rather one of New Zealand's best sportpersons," Dewe said. "It is a huge honour for Danyon and the sport in NZ, and we believe it is a goal to which our current swimmers can aim for."