Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Cameron wants to be a provider for Team SA
Van der Burgh very serious about business once he enters the pool
CONSIDERED to be the spark that set the London medal haul into motion, Cameron van Burgh believes early success by the South African team could make or break their campaign at the Rio Olympic Games.
The South African Under23 men’s football team did exactly that when they came close to causing an upset in their goalless draw against powerhouse hosts Brazil.
Four years ago, Van der Burgh dropped the first domino when he powered his way to the Olympic 100m breaststroke title in a world record time of 58.46 seconds.
The honour of setting the wheels in motion could belong to someone else, possibly the road cyclists or swimmers Myles Brown, Sebastien Rousseau, and Michael Meyer, who could contest a final on the first evening in their respective events.
“When someone starts performing well, you want to get in on the action, and I think it lifts the whole environment and spirit of the team,” Van der Burgh said ahead of his 100m breaststroke heats today.
“If you look at Beijing where everything snowboarded and everybody did so bad and then London in retrospect we started doing well,” Van der Burgh said.
“You don’t want to be a slacker, you want to be a provider and give the team some positive energy and putting in the big performances.”
Van der Burgh and the rest of the swimming team were looking lean following intense training camps over the last few months.
The defending champion will not go into the Games as favourite – a label which belongs to Britain’s Adam Peaty – Van der Burgh’s season’s best of 59.61 seconds ranks him ninth in the world.
The ranking is purely academic as he posted that time at the end of March without much of a taper.
Going into the London Games, Van der Burgh was ranked fourth in the world with his time of 59.90 seconds before blasting to a new world record.
“It’s been a while since we raced, we never have to peak to qualify, we just have to do the time so coming in here we are all confident and looking good,” a relaxed Van der Burgh said poolside last night.
“It is the first time we are really giving a full taper and we are in the best shape of our lives and we hope every- one else is in the best shape because you want to win medals when everyone else are at their best.”
Van der Burgh’s biggest challenge to his title will come from world record- holder Peaty while they can expect Brazilians, Felipe Silva and Joao Gomes to take a stab it.
Peaty’s teammate world bronze medallist Ross Murdoch and American swimmer Kevin Cordes are also on the periphery.
However, Van der Burgh and Peaty are the only two swimmers that have come close to 58 seconds over the last year or so.
“You don’t want to win medals when there is a weak competition or not a strong field so we are all looking forward to the challenge and everyone is in good shape,” Van der Burgh said.
“I am feeling really confident mentally as well, it is a different challenge coming in this time but I’ve come in with a lot more wisdom and understanding of myself, my body and what I’ve gone through over the last four years.”
Van der Burgh will also be competing in the 200m breaststroke for the first time at the Olympics following his personal best of 2: 10.13 at the South African Championships in Durban in April.
Although he may not feature on anybody’s radar in the longer event, Van der Burgh could spring a surprise.
Van der Burgh made it clear he was not be doing the 200m to splash around in the water but to have a serious go with the hope of reaching the final and perhaps even challenge for a podium spot.
“I’m very serious every time I get into the pool, I think at this level it is a different ball game, you really need to up your game and up your mentality,” Van der Burgh said.
“Nobody comes to the Olympic Games just to participate, there are about 11 500 athletes and there are only about 300- odd medals and everybody wants to get one of those medals, two or three if possible.
“So I am very serious about it and obviously the 100m is the first priority and we are not doing anything to jeopardise that but the 200m is still going to play a big role in the preparation.”