Games history

Olympics day in history: Cameron van der Burgh lands SA’s first Olympic gold medal in eight years

Today in Olympic history: July 29

28 July 2024 - 21:00
subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now
SA's Cameron van der Burgh celebrates after winning the gold in the men's 100m breastsroke at the London 2012 Olympic Game.
MAKING A SPLASH SA's Cameron van der Burgh celebrates after winning the gold in the men's 100m breastsroke at the London 2012 Olympic Game.
Image: Jamie Squire/Getty Images

1952 — Cyclists Alfred Swift, George Eastman, Robert Fowler and Thomas Shardelow combine to win Olympic silver in the men’s 4,000m team pursuit at the Helsinki Games, finishing behind Italy.

1995 — Okkert Brits becomes the third pole-vaulter in history to clear six metres as he finishes second behind then world record-holder Sergei Bubka of Ukraine at a competition in Sestriere, Italy. Before that Brits had not been beyond 5.92m. Bubka’s best stood at 6.14m and Radion Gataullin of Russia had been 6.02m.

2009 — Cameron van der Burgh wins the 50m breaststroke at the world championships in Rome, touching first in a 26.67 world record ahead of Brazilian Felipe Silva in 26.76.

2012 — Cameron van der Burgh lands South Africa’s first Olympic gold medal in eight years when he wins the 100m breaststroke in a world record 58.46 sec at the London Games.

2021 — Mustapha Cassiem scores the winner as South Africa upset Germany 4-3 in a group B field hockey match at the Tokyo Olympics. Matthew Guise-Brown scored to equalise at 1-1, and Keenan Horne put South African up 2-1 before the Germans, the bronze medallists at the previous Games, fought back for a 3-2 lead. Nicholas Spooner equalised before Cassiem secured his team’s only win of the tournament.

subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now

Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.

Speech Bubbles

Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.