KAZAN, RUSSIA - AUGUST 04: Cameron van der Burgh of South Africa celebrates setting a new world record in a time of 26.62 in the Men's 50m Breaststroke heats on day eleven of the 16th FINA World Championships at the Kazan Arena on August 4, 2015 in Kazan, Russia. (Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images)

Home » Cameron Van Der Burgh Wins Gold And Retires from International Swimming

Cameron Van Der Burgh Wins Gold And Retires from International Swimming

South African breaststroker and SA sport legend Cameron van der Burgh announced his retirement from international swimming today… just after winning his fifth World Championship gold medal. The 30-year-old made the announcement during his post-race press conference on Wednesday after winning the World Short Course Championship in the men’s 100m breaststroke. ‘It is an amazing […]

By SAPeople
12-12-18 21:04
in Fab South African Stuff
KAZAN, RUSSIA - AUGUST 04: Cameron van der Burgh of South Africa celebrates setting a new world record in a time of 26.62 in the Men's 50m Breaststroke heats on day eleven of the 16th FINA World Championships at the Kazan Arena on August 4, 2015 in Kazan, Russia. (Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images)

South African breaststroker and SA sport legend Cameron van der Burgh announced his retirement from international swimming today… just after winning his fifth World Championship gold medal.

KAZAN, RUSSIA – AUGUST 04: Cameron van der Burgh of South Africa celebrates setting a new world record in a time of 26.62 in the Men’s 50m Breaststroke heats on day eleven of the 16th FINA World Championships at the Kazan Arena on August 4, 2015 in Kazan, Russia. (Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images)

The 30-year-old made the announcement during his post-race press conference on Wednesday after winning the World Short Course Championship in the men’s 100m breaststroke.

‘It is an amazing flashback to see a long way ago when I was a still young kid with a lot of dreams,’ he said. ‘It has been amazing to fulfil those dreams but today is the day I announce my retirement.

‘I couldn’t be more happy with the outcome of my last race tonight. I have won the 100m breast gold medal here in Hangzhou tonight and I feel very blessed to be here in this room with my family and coach.’

Van der Burgh had previously said that he would retire after the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo but getting married in July and accepting a new job at Andurand Capital Management, a large oil-focused hedge fund based in London, changed his mind.

Screenshot from Cameron van der Burgh’s Twitter page

Van der Burgh won an Olympic silver medal in the 100 breaststroke at the 2016 Olympic Games and a gold medal in the same event in 2012.

Cameron tweeted this evening: “?WORLD CHAMPION! ?I couldn’t of written a better ending for my last 100 meter race. Looking forward to closing out my career with some fun in the 50m! ???”

Sources: TeamSA.co.za and Twitter