GOLD medallist Cameron

van der Burgh poses during the award ceremony of the men’s 100m breaststroke final at the Fina Swimming Short Course World Championships in Hangzhou, China, yesterday. He announced his retirement.

PRODUCING typical “big moment” temperament, Cameron van der Burgh announced his retirement in emphatic fashion by winning the 100m breaststroke gold medal at the World ShortCourse Championships in Hangzhou, China, yesterday.

Van der Burgh, 30, shone as brightly as he did when he made his world championships debut 11 years ago by claiming his seventh world short-course medal.

Like so many times before, the strapping South African produced when it mattered at the highest level and yesterday he dropped the mic when announcing he would hang up his goggles.

“It means the world to me, it is my last race so I am extremely happy,” Van der Burgh said. “The world championship means a lot, it is the last one. It is sad, but I am happy to end on a high.”

The SA legend produced a stunning performance that belied his years by reclaiming the title he won eight years ago Swimming from lane seven, Van der Burgh, pictured, started fast and led at the halfway point.

While it looked like he was fading, he held on to touch first in a new championship record of 56.01 seconds, chopping 0.28secs off the previous mark. He touched ahead of Belarus’ Ilya Shymanovich and Japan’s Yashuhiro Koseki, who clocked new national records of 56.10s and 56.13 respectively.

“I am beyond happy. When I made the turn at 75 metres, I knew I had a good chance and I had to hold on,” Van der Burgh said.

“Luckily it wasn’t one metre more or I would have lost that one. The last 25 metres was the most pain I have ever had in my life in swimming, so it was a good way to finish.

“It is funny how these things turn out. At least I have no loose ends to tie up or reason to come back.”

Meanwhile, Chad le Clos is still on target for his fourth consecutive 100m butterfly gold after winning his semi-final in the second fastest time of day.