Anthony Nesty is the only Surinamese Olympic medal winner. He won the gold medal winner of the 100 meters butterfly at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. His time at that distance, 53.00 seconds, one hundred of a second faster than American superstar Matt Biondi, was a new Olympic Record. Nesty's performance caused a country-wide celebration party in Suriname. About 20,000 people (5% of the population of Suriname) received him at the airport when he came back from the Olympics. For his medal-achieving performance, Anthony Nesty received one of the highest government awards; he became Commandeur in de Ere-orde van de Gele Ster
After winning his Olympic gold medal, Nesty was unbeaten at the 100 meters butterfly for three years. He also became world champion at the same distance at January 8, 1991 in Perth. At the Olympic games of 1992 in Barcelona Anthony Nesty finished his swimming career with a bronze medal.
Olympic medal-achieving performances
Seoul 21-09-1988 100 meters butterfly men 1. Anthony Nesty (SUR) 53.00 (Olympic Record) 2. Matt Biondi (USA) 53.01 3. Andy Jameson (GBR) 53.30 Barcelona 27-07-1992 100 meters butterfly men 1. Pablo Morales (USA) 53.32 2. R. Szukala (POL) 53.35 3. Anthony Nesty (SUR) 53.41