Cameron van den Burgh breaks world record for 100 metre breaststroke at 2012 Olympics - previously broke 50 metre breaststroke record [26.67 seconds]

 
Cameron van der Burgh has won the men's 100m breaststroke final, finishing in 58.46 seconds and securing SA's first gold medal at the London Olympic Games.

Cameron van der Burgh finished first in the men's 100m breaststroke final on Sunday night, securing the South Africa's first medal at the London Olympic Games.

 "It's a feeling I can't describe right now, it has been a lot of work in the making. Everything has paid off tonight," he said.

"If there is such a thing as the perfect race, I think I swam it at the right time tonight.

"I don't really care about the world record, once you have become an Olympic champion that can never be taken away from you.

Cameron van der Burgh (AP)

"I can tell my kids when they are watching one day that I did that."

He also became the first South African man to win Olympic gold in an individual swimming event.

Van der Burgh paid tribute to Norwegian world champion swimmer Alexander Dale Oen, who died of heart failure last April while at a training camp in Flagstaff, Arizona, ahead of the London Olympics.

"I just have to pay tribute to Alexander Oen tonight, I know he has been with me this year, I think he helped me finish the race in such a strong manner," Van der Burgh said.

"Alexander pushed me in training, it made me realise I had to go faster to win the gold medal, that is what we trained for and that is what we have achieved."

Kitajima finished fifth, failing in his bid to become the first male swimmer to win the same event at three successive Games.

"I wanted to defend the title, but it was really tough and I enjoyed trying to do it," Kitajima said.

"It was a really tough race and I needed the world record to win, I didn't have the ability to be honest. I will do my best in the 200m."

Veteran American Hansen, 30, a world champion in the event five years ago, was thrilled to snare the bronze medal.

"That was as fast as I can go, I was pleased with the outcome. I couldn't go any faster," the Texan said

Van der Burgh finished in a time of 58.46 – 0.12 seconds faster than the previous record held by Australian Brenton Rickard.

Another Australian, Christian Sprenger (58.93), finished second, and Brendan Hansen of the United States (59.49) clinched the bronze medal.

Van der Burgh had qualified for the final in emphatic style on Saturday when he won his semi-final by breaking the previous South African, African and Olympic records with a time of 58.95.

Japan's Kosuke Kitajima, who won the breaststroke double at Athens in 2004 and Beijing four years later, was fifth, missing his chance to become the first man to win the same individual swimming title at three successive Olympics. He still has the 200 breaststroke later in the programme.

Van der Burgh said that he did not think that all the hype about the controversial high-tech performance-enhancing swimsuits, which are to be banned from next year, was necessary.

"It is a touchy subject, but if you look at the lineup, every single swimmer in my heat was wearing a Jaked or Arena X-Glide so it puts us on even playing fields.

"The suits are all pretty much the same, so I dont really believe that it gives too much of an advantage because everybody was wearing one."

He added that although he was looking forward to competing next year, when bodysuits are banned, he did not think it was that big of an issue. "Everybody is wearing the same suit at the moment already.

SHOOT: What's unique about this guy is he isn't based in Tuscon, he trains in Pretoria. Good job. Read my interview with van der Burgh (commissioned by Sports Illustrated).

Below details from a previous world record in the 50 metre breastroke.

clipped from www.superstars.co.za Although South African Cameron van der Burgh had just won the world championship in the 50m breaststroke and broken his own world record in the process, he was a worried man as he came out of the pool. He told the German press agency dpa that he was worried that he would not be able to hold it together during the medal ceremony. "In a few minutes I will hear my national anthem being played. "Hopefully I will not cry like a little girl, but keep it all together." A short while later however, Van der Burgh was presented with his gold medal and although he obviously had a lump in his throat during the ceremony, he managed to hold his composure. Instead of tears rolling down his cheeks, he had the biggest grin in Rome on his face as the gold medal was hung around his neck. After the formalities were completed, he said he was eager to celebrate his victory.