As reported on the Eye Witness News website Olympic Champion and World Record Holder in the 100 breaststroke Cameron van der Burgh of South Africa will be forced to miss the 2012 World Short Course Swimming Championships in Turkey due to a shoulder injury.
van der Burgh told the publication that, “I don’t want to put myself at risk and end up being out for the whole of next season.”
“I’ve had a great year. I’ve worked extremely hard and now my body is complaining. I just need time to regroup and refocus.”
He is currently ranked first in the world in both the 50 breaststroke (25.95) and the 100 breaststroke (57.22).
van der Burgh confirmed this when he posted the following on his Twitter account earlier today, “Hey guys, Decided to pull out of the World Champs in Turkey this year!”
The current world record holder in both the 50 and 100 breaststroke, long course meters and short course meters, has a had great success at the World Short Course Championships in the past, winning the 100 breaststroke and placing second in the 50 breaststroke in 2010 and finishing second in the 100 and third in the 50 in 2008.
It is also being reported by Sport Live that Roland Schoeman has been forced to withdraw from the team because of injury.
Schoeman who holds the world record hold in the 50 freestyle (SCM) is currently ranked second in the world in the 100 freestyle (46.50) and 50 butterfly (22.34) as well as eighth in the 50 freestyle (21.33).
Both withdrawals were confirmed by National Team Coach Graham Hill.
Hill downplayed the South Africans chances at World Championships, “I don’t think we must expect the results we got at the Olympics.”
Perhaps those complaining about dolphin kicking breaststrokers will remember this guy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9HP7_cJc9U (His 58.08 short course metres PB is still listed in the World’s all time top 50)
wow.
Either way guys , here Usa will have Cordes on breastroke for a medal and a great medley relay . That’s all that counts ….for now ! enjoy
Oh, good, The cheat is out. Can’t stand that guy.
Oh then i guess you cant stand kitajima and more than half the breastrokers or locthe for his fly kicks after every breast kick? At least someone had the balls to stand up and point it out to fina to change it.
Most of them were doing it at one time or another, Cameron said that himself. I often commented on here and other swim blog sites about how the British breaststrokers turns are behind the rest of the world and now I know why, we were the only fools doing one kick and pull…..Ah nice to judge isn’t it.
yeah, but i guarantee someone else is going to try it, seeing the success van der Burgh had with it.
People have been doing it for years. Just watch footage of Eric Shanteau from 2009 worlds.