Van der Burgh gets down to business
UPROOTING his life in pursuit of a career after swimming, Cameron van der Burgh does not expect this to have too much of an influence on his time in the pool as he counts down the last four years as a professional swimmer.
South Africa’s first homegrown world record holder and male Olympic champion, has grown accustomed to following long-time coach Dirk Lange’s training sessions from a distance and it will be no different based in Cape Town.
“I’ve been doing my own programmes from afar for so many years, so it doesn’t matter whether I am in Pretoria or Cape Town,” Van der Burgh said after a brief appearance at the African Swimming Championships in Bloemfontein this week.
Van der Burgh recently revealed he would exchange Pretoria, where he was born and raised, for the Mother City as he dips his toe into the business world.
The 28-year-old is looking to transition into a business life in a similar fashion to Olympic gold medallist Ryk Neethling, who is a director and a major shareholder at Val de Vie Estate in Paarl.
Rumour has it fellow London Olympic gold medallist Chad le Clos will also soon be moving to the Western Cape as he looks to launch the Chad le Clos Swimming Academy.
While both swimmers are coy about their futures, Van der Burgh said he would also be involved in Le Clos’ venture in some sort of capacity.
“Chad’s thing is very exciting, and I am also going to be a part of that but for me it is more about setting myself up,” Van der Burgh said.
“You don’t do things to become famous, you don’t do things to remain relevant, you do things because you love it, and you can see Ryk Neethling loves Val de Vie.”
Van der Burgh said Neethling has played an instrumental role in his life as a mentor and he would be looking to follow a similar path as the member of the famous “awesome foursome”.
“He knew how to market himself and that is what he has done so well, so I am going into a sort of a similar field but more on the sporting side because that is obviously what I love,” Van der Burgh said.
“It is more about keeping the passion alive and you do not want to get bored which would make me crazy.
“It is all about finding the passion and something you can dedicate to, and contribute to the South African economy in the process.”
Van der Burgh is looking to be in his new home by the new year and views the move in a similar vein to his maiden appearance at the Beijing 2008 Games.
“Change is as good as a holiday. I love Pretoria, and it has been an amazing place. It will always be home but it is time to start a new chapter in my life now,” he said.
“I don’t want to live my whole life in one place; you can learn so much more getting away from the nest, mom and dad. You are forced to change and you pick up new things.
“I am as excited about this new career, this new challenge, as I was for my first Olympic Games.
“All the logistics are being finalised, and the lease is being signed for offices. January 1, or maybe the second (because of New Year’s Eve celebrations) we’ll start working.”
This did not mean swimming is completely on the back burner as Van der Burgh faces a race against time to be ready for the Fina World Short-Course Championships in Canada in December.
The Championships will be Van der Burgh’s second last of his career in which he will possibly only feature in the 50m breaststroke event.
Van der Burgh is the world record holder in both the 50m and 100m breaststroke short-course events.
“As people can see I am not in the normal shape but we have about eight weeks, which is enough time to drop the weight and put in a bit of work,” the star swimmer said.
“We will see until the Championships, maybe I will just focus on the 50 metre, it is my last four years and I just want to enjoy it.”