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Irene Van Dyk - Source: ONE Sport
Irene van Dyk
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Born: Jun 21, 1972 , Johanasburg
Position: GS/GA
Height: 1.90m
Caps: 175 (NZ - 118; South Africa - 72)
100th Test Match: Silver Ferns v Australian Diamonds, September
2009
Nickname: I's
Hobbies: sun, swim, read anything outdoors
Irene van Dyk captained South Africa before making the Silver Ferns squad in 2000.
She was a member of the victorious Silver Ferns' teams at the 2003 World Championship and the 2006, 2010 Commonwealth Games; was named Sportswoman of the Year at the 2004 Halberg Awards; and holds the world record for international Test caps while also holding the record as the most capped Silver Fern of all time.
In her 100th appearance for the Silver Ferns, on 23 September 2009, the team defeated Australia, and van Dyk was named Player of the Match after shooting 33 goals (92%) from 36 attempts.
In the 2009 Queen's Birthday Honours List, van Dyk was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for her services to netball.
After her 16th season of elite international competition, Irene van Dyk's hold on the title of the world's best shooter is as firm as ever.
Renowned as a great target shooter, able to pull the ball down close to the post under extreme pressure, van Dyk has shown her versatility with occasional outings at goal attack for both Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic and the Silver Ferns.
This year van Dyk has once again been on target for her provincial side in the ANZ Championship, shooting 446 from 485 attempts, an impressive 91.96%. She has also featured well in rebounds and turnover ball for the 2011 season.
