#IOLYMPICS - Cameron proud after battle with nerves

Published Aug 8, 2016

Share

Cameron van der Burgh overcame debilitating nerves to salvage a praiseworthy 100m breaststroke Olympic silver medal in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday evening.

The defending champion looked dejected following Saturday's semi-final as the realisation kicked in that he could be in trouble.

Van der Burgh had already made peace with the loss of his title to world-record holder and eventual champion Adam Peaty of Great Britain, who was making quantum leaps in the 100m breaststroke.

“I was feeling the pressure and I get these attacks of nerves that come over you, it’s like a fridge on your chest so you have to fight it off over the day,” Van der Burgh admitted after winning his silver medal.

“There’s something special about the pressure.”

Peaty dipped below 58 seconds twice on Saturday - setting a world record of 57.55 seconds in the afternoon heats before posting another 57-second time in the semi-final.

Van der Burgh looked somewhat shellshocked following the heat although he tried to put up a brave face.

The South African managed to pick himself up to produce the goods in the final touching second behind Peaty in 58.69s.

While Van der Burgh and American Cody Miller were fighting it out for silver and bronze Peaty was chasing yet another world record.

The youngster won his maiden Olympic gold medal in emphatic style hitting the wall in a new world record 57.13s.

“I knew tonight in the warmup that I wasn't going to go 57 seconds so I had to try and the best I could,” Van der Burgh said.

“Even if I went 57.5 it wouldn't have been good enough, you'd really have to go a spectacular time.

“The race for the silver medal was really on and I am super stoked that I was able to push through and win that mental victory.”

Winning the silver in itself its a commendable feat as Van der Burgh became only the second male Olympic 100m champion to land a podium spot four years after winning the title.

Only former world-record holder Kosuke Kitajima of Japan has done this before when he won gold in Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008.

“I am in good company, it is really difficult to be so consistent over the years, and we can see a lot of previous Olympic champions struggling at this Games,” Van der Burgh said.

For a brief moment Van der Burgh contemplated retiring from the sport after he had lost some passion for swimming.

The 2014 Commonwealth Games proved to be a turning point taking some time out for rehabilitation to a niggling shoulder injury during which time he found his motivation to race again.

Van der Burgh went into 2015 with a new purpose, and bowed out of the Fina World Championships in Kazan, Russia winning silver in the men’s 50m and 100m breaststroke behind Peaty.

“I am really happy, and it's been a tough four years, there has been a lot of ups, a lot of downs,” Van der Burgh said.

“But winning a medal is something tangible, it is something you can hold, and that represents the struggles you went through, the sacrifices, and also the victories.

“It is a representation of another four years in the bag. It had been fruitful and I'm so proud that I can add that to my tally now.”

In the hours leading up to the final Van der Burgh needed to keep his nerves in check as he faced another defining moment in his career.

“I was just thinking fighting the inner battles and there are obviously a lot of things that can weigh in on your mind, the doubt, the expectation,” Van der Burgh said.

“You really have to try and fight those off and believe in yourself aand understand you cam only control what is in your body and in your head and you don't have to pay too much attention to thinking of the negative side.” - Independent Media

Related Topics: