Brandon Schuster

{{short description|Samoan swimmer}} {{Infobox sportsperson | headercolor = lightblue | name = Brandon Schuster | image = Brandon Schuster (Hangzhou) 2.jpg | image_size =  | caption = | fullname = | nickname = | nationality = {{SAM}} | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1998|04|23|df=yes}} | birth_place = Suva, Fiji | death_date =  | death_place = | monuments = | education = | alma_mater = | occupation = | yearsactive = | other_interests = | website = | country = | sport = Swimming | rank = | event = Freestyle, Backstroke, Individual Medley | league = | league_type = | employer = | agent = | height = 188 cm | weight = 75 kg | universityteam = | collegeteam = | club = Tanifa O Le Vai Swim Club | team = | turnedpro = | partner = | former_partner = | coach = | coaching = | retired = | worlds = | regionals = | nationals = | olympics = | paralympics = | highestranking = | pb = | medaltemplates = {{MedalSport | Men's swimming}} {{MedalCountry | {{SAM}} }} {{MedalCompetition|Pacific Games}} {{MedalGold|2019 Apia|200 m backstroke}} {{MedalGold|2019 Apia|400 m medley}} {{MedalSilver|2015 Port Moresby|400 m medley}} {{MedalSilver|2019 Apia|200 m medley}} {{MedalBronze|2015 Port Moresby|200 m backstroke}} {{MedalBronze|2019 Apia|400 m freestyle}} {{MedalBronze|2019 Apia|200 m breastroke}} {{MedalCompetition|Oceania Championships}} {{MedalSilver|2018 Port Moresby|400 m medley}} {{MedalBronze|2016 Suva|400 m medley}} {{MedalBronze|2018 Port Moresby|200 m medley}} | show-medals = | updated = 4 November 2021 }}

'''Brandon Schuster''' (born 23 April 1998 in Fiji) is a Samoan swimmer who represented Samoa at the 2016 Summer Olympics.{{refn|name=OlympicBotGeneratedRef|{{cite web|title=Brandon Schuster |url=https://www.rio2016.com/en/athlete/brandon-schuster |website=Rio2016.com |publisher=Rio 2016 Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games |access-date=23 August 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160824230042/https://www.rio2016.com/en/athlete/brandon-schuster |archive-date=24 August 2016 }}}} He holds multiple Samoan records in swimming.

==Personal life== Schuster is the son of Samoan politician Toeolesulusulu Cedric Schuster.<ref name=Elected2021>{{cite web |url=https://samoaglobalnews.com/environmentalist-toeolesulusulu-cedric-returns-to-parliament1/ |title=Environmentalist Toeolesulusulu Cedric Schuster Returns to Parliament |publisher=Samoa Global News |date=9 April 2021 |access-date=28 May 2021}}</ref> He was educated at Robert Louis Stevenson School in Apia,<ref name=SOPOY/> and at California Baptist University, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering in 2021.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/samoa/83678 |title=Top Samoan swimmer secures academic honours |publisher=Samoa Observer |author=Seia Lavilavi Soloi |date=8 May 2021 |access-date=5 September 2021}}</ref>

==Swimming career== ===2012=== At the 2012 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m) he competed in the 50m, 100m and 200 metre freestyle events, the 50m, 100m and 200 metre backstroke events, the 50m, 100m and 200 metre breaststroke events, and the 100 metre individual medley.

===2013=== He represented Samoa at the 2013 World Aquatics Championships, racing in the 400m and 800 metre freestyle events.

===2014=== He represented Samoa at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, competing in the 50m, 100m, 200m and 400 metre freestyle, the 200 metre breaststroke and the 200 metre individual medley.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://g2014results.thecgf.com/athlete/weightlifting/1021634/brandon_schuster.html|title=Glasgow 2014 - Brandon Schuster Profile|publisher=|access-date=2016-08-25|archive-date=2023-04-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230416014015/http://g2014results.thecgf.com/athlete/weightlifting/1021634/brandon_schuster.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

At the 2014 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m), he raced in the 50m, 100m, 200m and 400 metre freestyle and the 200 metre breaststroke.

===2015=== Schuster competed at the 2015 Pacific Games, winning bronze in the 200 metre backstroke, and silver in the 400 metre individual medley race. He set a national record in the 400 metre individual medley.<ref name="swimswam.com">{{cite web|url=https://swimswam.com/new-zealand-dominates-day-two-oceania-championships/|title=New Zealand Dominates Day Two in the Pool of Oceania Championships|date=22 June 2016|publisher=}}</ref>

At the 2015 Commonwealth Youth Games, held in Samoa, Schuster finished 6th in the 400 metre individual medley.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://swimswam.com/fina-development-clinic-held-in-samoa/|title=FINA Development Clinic Held in Samoa|date=8 October 2015|publisher=}}</ref>

He represented Samoa at the 2015 World Aquatics Championships, racing in the 200m and 400 metre freestyle events.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://swimswam.com/oceania-contingent-shares-experiences-from-world-championships-video/|title=Oceania Contingent Shares Experiences from World Championships (Video)|date=21 August 2015|publisher=}}</ref>

===2016=== At the 2016 Oceania Swimming Championships, he won bronze in the 400 metre individual medley race, breaking his national record in the process.<ref name="swimswam.com"/> He also competed in the 400m, 200 metre individual medley and 5 km races.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=359395|title=Fiji born Schuster claims bronze for Samoa - Fiji Times Online|publisher=|access-date=2016-08-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160828172237/http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=359395|archive-date=2016-08-28|url-status=dead}}</ref>

At the 2016 Summer Olympics he competed in the Men's 200 m freestyle, where he ranked 46th with a time of 1:57.72. He did not advance to the semifinals.

2016 started competing with California Baptist University

===2017===

Competed at the NCAA division 2 Championships in Alabama for the [https://cbulancers.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=6186 California Baptist University] and placed 4th in the 400im.

At the 2017 World Aquatics Championships in Budapest, Hungary he competed in the men's 200 freestyle and 400im.

===2018===

Competed at the 2018 Commonwealth Games for team Samoa and swam the 50, 100, 200 and 400 freestyle. As well as the 200 and 400 Individual Medley. He set Samoan records in the 50, 100 and 400 freestyle.

===2019===

Competed in the 2019 Pacific Games for team Samoa and was one of the Games torch runners for the opening.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Schuster Caps Off Historic Week at Pacific Games|url=https://cbulancers.com/news/2019/7/16/mens-swimming-and-diving-schuster-caps-off-historic-week-at-pacific-games.aspx|access-date=2021-01-11|website=CBU Athletics|language=en}}</ref> He competed in multiple swimming events medaling with Gold for the 200 Backstroke and 400 Individual Medly, Silver in the 200 IM, as well as receiving Bronze in the 400 Freestyle and 200 Breaststroke.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Schuster Makes Splash in 2019 Pacific Games – The Banner|url=http://cbubanner.com/2019/09/17/schuster-makes-splash-in-2019-pacific-games/|access-date=2021-01-11|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Samoa's Pacific Games golden boy strikes again|url=https://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/sport/45382|access-date=2021-01-11|website=Samoa Observer}}</ref> He was named and awarded the "Male Athlete of the 2019 Pacific Games" for his accolades in Samoa swimming and being a cornerstone in Pacific swimming development.<ref>{{Cite web|author=Staff Writers|date=2019-07-20|title=Brandon Schuster is the Best Male Athlete of the 2019 Pacific Games|url=https://samoaglobalnews.com/brandon-schuster-is-best-male-athlete-of-pacific-games/|access-date=2021-01-11|website=Samoa Global News|language=en-US}}</ref> He then competed at eh FINA World Aquatics Championships swimming in the 400 IM and 200 IM.

At the [https://www.anocolympic.org/anoc-awards/the-anoc-awards-2019/ ANOC Awards 2019] held in Doha, Qatar he was awarded with the "Best Male Athlete in Oceania" for 2019.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/sport/51638 |title=Brandon Schuster named Oceania's best male athlete |author=Mata'afa Keni Lesa |publisher=Samoa Observer |date=18 October 2019 |access-date=5 September 2021}}</ref> He was subsequently named one of the Samoa Observer's 2019 "people of the year".<ref name=SOPOY>{{cite web |url=https://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/samoa/55253 |title=2019 People of the Year: Brandon Schuster |publisher=Samoa Observer |date=1 January 2020 |author=Soli Wilson |access-date=5 September 2021}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist|30em}}

==External links== * {{sports links}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Schuster, Brandon}} Category:1998 births Category:Living people Category:Olympic swimmers for Samoa Category:Swimmers at the 2016 Summer Olympics Category:Commonwealth Games competitors for Samoa Category:Swimmers at the 2014 Commonwealth Games Category:Swimmers at the 2018 Commonwealth Games Category:Swimmers at the 2022 Commonwealth Games Category:Male medley swimmers Category:Samoan male swimmers Category:Sportspeople from Apia Category:Samoan male freestyle swimmers Category:Male backstroke swimmers Category:Male breaststroke swimmers Category:California Baptist University alumni Category:Pacific Games gold medalists for Samoa Category:Pacific Games medalists in swimming Category:Pacific Games silver medalists for Samoa Category:Pacific Games bronze medalists for Samoa