Fwd: Media Release - FINA World Championships - Day 8 (Evening)

[Su Bonney]

MEDIA STATEMENT

Cameron books place in final as SA swimming gathers speed in Rome

26 July 2009

For immediate release

Cameron van der Burgh means business and his progression from not making the 2008 Beijing Olympic final to being the second fastest swimmer going into tomorrow’s 100 meters breaststroke final, is one of several reasons for SA’s swim team to beam with pride at the FINA World Championships in Rome.

In clocking an African best of 59.13 secs, Van der Burgh gave the national swim team a major boost with only American Eric Shanteau (58.96) able to go quicker than the Tshwane-based swim star in the semi-finals stage.

For Roland Schoeman, it was a day of mixed fortunes. After setting an Africa record of 22.90 in the 50 metres butterfly in the morning heats, he finished ninth overall in the semi-finals in 23.18, missing out on a place in the final.

Later he returned to the waters in fine style in helping Lyndon Ferns, Darian Townsend and young Graeme Moore to a fifth place finish in the 4 x 100 metres freestyle relay final in an African record time of 3:12.08.

For US-based pre-medical student Moore, 20, it was a learning curve second to none and a test that he passed with flying colours. Apart from playing a key role in the relay team, he also managed to qualify for the semi-finals of the 50 metres butterfly in his first major international event for his country.

In the relay, the Michael Phelps-powered USA quarter took gold in 3:09.21, followed by Russia 3:09.52 and France in 3:09.89.

Ahead of tomorrow night’s action which will see Van der Burgh striving for a medal in the 100 metres breaststroke final, the focus will shift to an entertaining morning session with the SA highlight set to be Jean Basson’s campaign in the 200 metres freestyle – a discipline that he finished just out of the medals in at last year’s Olympics. Basson will be joined in the event by Jasper Venter.

Add in Wendy Trott’s potential success in the 1500 meters freestyle, plus Durban scholar Charl van Zyl under starter’s orders in the 100 metres backstroke and the green and gold swim suits of the Rainbow Nation will be ready to challenge.

ENDS

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