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Irene van Dyk

Personal information
Full name	Irene van Dyk (née Viljoen)
Height	1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Spouse	Christie van Dyk
Netball career
Playing position(s): GS, GA
Medal record Representing  South Africa Netball World Championships 1995 Birmingham Netball Representing  New Zealand Netball World Championships 2003 Kingston Netball 2007 Auckland Netball Commonwealth Games 2002 Manchester Netball 2006 Melbourne Netball 2010 Delhi Netball World Netball Series 2009 Manchester Fastnet
Last updated: 21 October 2010

Irene van Dyk, MNZM (née Viljoen; born 21 June 1972 in Vereeniging, South Africa) is a South African–New Zealand netball player. Van Dyk is one of the world's best-known netballers and one of the most capped international players in history.^[1] She made her international debut in the South African national team in 1994 during South Africa's tour of England. Irene van Dyk rose to international prominence during the 1995 Netball World Championships in Birmingham, in which South Africa famously defeated New Zealand to reach the final of the tournament. She continued to represent South Africa in international netball up to 1999.

In 2000 van Dyk travelled to New Zealand to play for the Capital Shakers in the Coca-Cola Cup. Later that year she decided to settle in New Zealand permanently. A berth in the New Zealand national team, the Silver Ferns, quickly followed, sparking some controversy. She debuted for the Silver Ferns later that year, in which the Silver Ferns suffered a heavy defeat to Australia. In 2003, van Dyk transferred from the Shakers to the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic, and continues to play with the team in the ANZ Championship.

Van Dyk's international career has spanned more than 15 years, during which she has amassed 72 caps for South Africa and more than 100 for New Zealand. A tall, athletically mobile and accurate goaler, she has remained in the goal shooter position for most of her career, often shooting at 90% per game.^[2] Van Dyk has competed at four Netball World Championships and three Commonwealth Games, winning gold with the Silver Ferns at the 2003 World Championships in Kingston and the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.

She currently resides in the Wellington region of New Zealand with her husband Christie and daughter Bianca. Following the Silver Ferns' victory at the 2003 World Championships, she was voted "New Zealand Sportswoman of the Year" at the Halberg awards; van Dyk was also nominated for the same award in 2001 and 2005. Irene van Dyk became a citizen of New Zealand in 2005, and remains one of New Zealand's most popular sportspeople.^[3][4] In 2009, she was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2009 Queen's Birthday Honours for her services to New Zealand netball.^[5]