Mark Treffers

Mark Treffers is one of the unsung heroes of New Zealand sport. Perhaps because he spent most of his working life as a lawyer based in Canberra, his heroics at the 1974 Christchurch Commonwealth Games have tended to be overlooked somewhat.

Another factor might be that on the same day Treffers stunned swimming followers by winning the gold medal in the men’s 400m individual medley, Jaynie Parkhouse captured the hearts of the country with her thrilling gold medal effort in the 800m freestyle and not surprisingly captured most of the headlines.

However, Treffers remains one of New Zealand’s swimming greats.

Born in Invercargill in 1953, Treffers learned to swim at the Waverley Swimming Club in his home town.

He had his first Games experience at the 1970 Edinburgh Commonwealth Games, where he had a full schedule, contesting six events. His memorable result was in the 1500m, where he finished 3rd in 16min 44.69s, a fine effort for a 16-year-old international fledgling. At Edinburgh he didn’t progress pass the heats of the 200m or 400m freestyle events and swam in three relays, for 4th, 5th and 6th placings.

On to the 1972 Munich Olympics, where Treffers’ 16min 18.84s effort in the 1500m final (26 seconds faster than he’d managed in Edinburgh) earned him a meritorious 6th placing. It was five seconds faster than he’d swum in his 1500m heat. He didn’t progress past his heat in the 400m freestyle.

In Christchurch in 1974, Treffers, just turned 20, felt immediately comfortable. The athletes' village, in the university's halls of residence, was a home away from home for the Southlander, who’d stayed there during his first year as a university law student. In Christchurch he’d joined the strong Wharenui club and came under the expert eye of coach Pic Parkhouse.

The 1500m was regarded as his best bet. But first up was the 400m individual medley. He could manage just 3rd in his heat, behind favoured Englishman Brian Brinkley, but it was enough to get him into the final.

Brinkley opened a large lead in the butterfly and backstroke legs of the final, but Treffers stormed back in the breaststroke segment, which he completed in just 1min 20s, and ended it a full second ahead of Brinkley, with his specialist freestyle stroke to carry him home. He finished with a Commonwealth Games record time of 4min 35.90s and an incredible winning margin of 5½ seconds.

Treffers said he surprised himself with how well he swam that day. “I think the hype and the enthusiasm of everyone around the New Zealand team inspired me to go faster than I thought I could possibly go.”

That wasn’t the end for Treffers, either. He pushed hard for a medal in the 400m freestyle, but had to settle for 4th in 4min 05.80s. In the 1500m he ended up with the silver medal after swimming 15min 59.82s, becoming only the seventh swimmer in history to duck under the magic 16-minute barrier. Treffers had opened up a lead of more than 22 seconds over third-placed Australian Stephen Badger. The race was won by Australia’s champion distance man Stephen Holland, who broke the 800m world record during the final.

Treffers’ Games commitment finished when he helped the 4x200m freestyle team to 5th, swimming the anchor leg in 1min 58.92s.

After the Games were over, the New Zealand and Canadian swim teams toured New Zealand, holding exhibition meets in several rural centres. Parkhouse and Treffers, the gold medallists, were billeted like all the others and enjoyed the small-town hospitality.

Treffers rounded out his Games appearances at the 1976 Montreal Olympics, where his 15min 56.11s effort in the 1500m wasn’t quick enough to earn him a spot in the final. He also didn’t progress past his heat in the 400m individual medley.

Mark Treffers Drive in New Brighton and Treffers Rd in Wigram are named after him.

Mark’s son Ben followed his father’s footsteps and also became a swim champion, a specialist backstroker who represented Australia at world championships and two Commonwealth Games. At the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games, he won the gold medal in the 50m backstroke.