Cameron van der Burgh confesses to three underwater dolphin kicks at Olympics – Swimming News
The world record holder of the Men’s 100m breaststroke, Cameron van der Burgh of South Africa has confessed that he used three dolphin kicks after he dived into the water.
The South African swimmer, who broke the world record of the 100m discipline at the London Olympic Games, used multiple dolphin kicks before he came out of the water surface.
With his laudable efforts, van der Burgh shattered the former world record of the discipline made by Brenton Rickard of Australia. The 24-year-old van der Burgh made his way to the finishing end in a newly improved world record time of 58.46 seconds at these
Games.
He was followed by Australian national champion, Christian Sprenger, who remained just half a body length behind and transpired on the finishing wall as second position holder with an effort of 58.93 seconds.
The Australian was followed by Brendan Hansen of USA, who proved his mettle for bronze medal of the discipline by touching the wall with a timing of 59.49 seconds.
Nevertheless, the video of the race clearly unveils the South African swimmer taking advantage of three dolphin kicks while he stated that he was not willing to risk the title by doing what most of the swimmers do.
When asked about the issue, van der Burgh had no hesitation in accepting that and said, “If you’re not doing it, you’re falling behind. It’s not obviously - shall we say - the moral thing to do, but I’m not willing to sacrifice my personal performance and
four years of hard work for someone that is willing to do it and get away with it.”
“I think it’s pretty funny of the Australians to complain because in the underwater footage if you actually look at Brenton Rickard in the lane next to me, he’s doing the exact same thing as me yet they’re turning a blind eye,” he added.
According to the rules of aquatics sport governing body, FINA, breaststrokers are allowed only one underwater dolphin kick but most of the breaststroke swimmers use multiple kicks as FINA does not use video technology to take notice of that.
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