Illegal dolphin kicks : South African swimmer Cameron van der Burgh has admitted that he cheated in winning the 100-meter breaststroke last week during London Olympic 2012.
South African swimmer Cameron van der Burgh set a world record in the 100-meter breaststroke in London Olympic 2012, but may have cheated to accomplish that feat. To which he has basically responded: ‘ If you’re not cheating, you’re not trying. ‘
Cameron van der Burgh has told to the reporters that ‘ everybody does it—well, if not everybody, 99% of them ‘, explaining his rationale for taking more than the 1 dolphin kick that is permissible under the rules of the breaststroke. ‘ If you’re not doing it you are falling behind and giving yourself a disadvantage ‘.
Van der Burgh said the FINA World Cup meeting in Stockholm 2 years ago trialled the use of underwater video footage to assist the pool referee and the practice of illegal kicking immediately ceased.
Cameron van der Burgh admits using illegal dolphin kicks to win the Olympic gold medal / London Olympic Games 2012
The swimmer Cameron van der Burgh admitted to taking extra dolphin kicks at the start of the race, sneaking in 3 kicks when only allowed one. However, the sport’s governing body does not use underwater replay review, so there is no way that other swimmers can appeal the decision. When asked about it, South African swimmer Cameron van der Burgh had no regrets.
Despite Cameron van der Burgh’s admission, the Olympic 100m breaststroke results will stand as there is no way for a review of the result a few days after the fact, unless a South African swimmer is convicted of doping.
Underwater footage of Cameron van der Burgh’s start revealed him doing more than the one dolphin kick breaststrokers are allowed under water on starts and turns. He won in a world record of 48.46sec, while Australian Christian Sprenger took the silver medal in 48.93sec.
Gold medal winner Cameron van der Burgh said he knew it was wrong, but he felt he had no choice after watching his competitors get away with the same illegal practice in other races.
Dolphin illegal kicks used by South African gold medal winner Cameron van der Burgh during London Olympic 2012
With no underwater technology swimming’s governing body has no way to investigate the admission. Cameron van der Burgh admitted he knew the extra dolphin kick was morally wrong, but insisted that unless the rule was enforced van der Burgh, and other swimmers, would continue to employ the illegal tactic.
There have been repeated calls for FINA to introduce underwater footage to assist competition officials since at least 2004, when Kitajima was accused of using an illegal dolphin kick to beat American Brendan Hansen in the 100m breaststroke.
The matter was raised again at the 2005 world titles in Montreal, where underwater video appeared to show Poland’s Otylia Jedrzejczak used a single freestyle stroke to defeat Jessicah Schipper in the 200m butterfly final. But FINA has consistently refused to use the technology that TV broadcasters now use as a matter.
NBC Sports reports that while the swimming governing body- FINA- will presumably leave the results as they are, there is a chance that the Olympic committee could reverse the results after reviewing the tape and Cameron van der Burgh’s revelations.
[adrotate banner=”41″]
