WE GO AGAIN
KEVIN McCALLUM: Big-hearted Van der Burgh bows out on a high after ace career
At the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi in 2010, I asked Graham Hill, head coach of the SA swimming team, if he had seen Cameron van der Burgh’s little move after winning the 100m breaststroke. Hill looked a little perplexed and smiled: “What did he do now?” Van der Burgh won, sat up on the rope and held up the palms of his hands on which he had written “Ke Nako”. “It’s our time to shine,” said Van der Burgh when we spoke just after his race. I spoke to Van der Burgh most days in the mixed zone of the aquatic centre in Delhi. I was just one of two SA print journalists in India for the 2010 Games. After five days of stopping him for a chat after his races, Van der Burgh sent me a message on Twitter, asking if I was the guy who kept interviewing him. Indeed, it was. I’ve watched Van der Burgh’s greatest moments over the years, from world championships to Olympic glory and world records. His retirement from competitive swimming this week with a win in the 100m breaststroke at the short ...
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