Irene van Dyk
| Irene van Dyk | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Irene van Dyk (née Viljoen) | ||
| Born |
21 June 1972 Vereeniging, Gauteng, South Africa |
||
| Height | 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) | ||
| Occupation | Primary school teacher | ||
| Spouse | Christie van Dyk | ||
| Children | Bianca van Dyk | ||
| Netball career | |||
| Playing position(s): GS, GA | |||
| Years | Club team(s) | Apps | |
| 2000–02 | Capital Shakers | ||
| 2003–2013 | Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic | ||
| 2014–Present | Central Pulse | ||
| (Correct as of 6 March 2014) | |||
| Years | National team(s) | Caps | |
| 1994–99 |
 South Africa
|
72 | |
| 2000–14 |
 New Zealand
|
145 | |
| (Correct as of 5 June 2014) | |||
|
Medal record
|
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 Irene van DykPhotosport |
Irene van Dyk MNZM (née Viljoen; born 21 June 1972) is a South African-born New Zealand netball player. A goal-shoot, she is one of the world's best-known netballers and the most capped international player of all time.
Debuting in 1994, she represented South Africa 72 times and captained the team. In 2000 she moved to Wellington, New Zealand and was quickly picked for the national team, the Silver Ferns. This caused some minor controversy, as the only rule in netball at the time for players switching between nations was a ban on playing for more than one nation in a calendar year.
She was the 2003 New Zealand Sportswoman of the Year and a nominee in 2005. She became a New Zealand citizen in 2005, and represented New Zealand for 14 years before retiring from international netball in June 2014.
Van Dyk still plays for the Central Pulse in the ANZ Championship. For most of her domestic career in New Zealand she played for the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic (2003-2013).
Irene van Dyk is a teacher, having worked in both primary and intermediate schools. She has one daughter named Bianca with her husband, Christie. Bianca followed her mother into netball. A Christian, Irene supported the "Lifeathon" fund-raising event for Christian music radio network Life FM. A 2002 biography about her by Russell Gray is called Changing Colours.
She shoots 300 goals a day for fun. Her husband Christie analyses her play.
She is renowned for her consistent shooting volume and accuracy, with shooting percentages that are rarely seen in netball. Her 191 cm height, natural athleticism and strong hands help her dominate opponents.
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