Gold medalist swimmer: I cheated (and so does everyone else)
If you ain't cheatin', you ain't tryin'. So says many a NASCAR driver. Or NFL
coach (just not publicly).
Not surprisingly, we are reminded every four years, you can add Olympic athletes to that list. Swimmer Cameron van der Burgh of South Africa, specifically. Somewhat refreshingly, the gold medal winner told a newspaper in Australia he did indeed slip in a few extra “dolphin kicks” (whip-like motions you see swimmers make after they turn) on his way to a world record in the 100-meter breaststroke Sunday in London.
"If you're not doing it, you're falling behind," the South African told the Sydney Morning Herald. "It’s got to the sort of point where if you're not doing it you're ... giving yourself a disadvantage so everyone's pushing the rules and pushing the boundaries, so if you're not doing it, you're not trying hard enough."
Under the rules, breaststroke swimmers are allowed one dolphin kick after they turn. On video, van der Burgh is shown doing three. While it’s pretty clear he violated the rules during Sunday’s event, there is no underwater judge, and officials do not watch that video during the Olympics.
The guy who finished second Sunday is Christian Sprenger, his Australian rival, who van der Burgh said also takes advantage of the situation. Hence the interest of the Australian media.
Two years ago judges were watching footage from an underwater, van der Burgh said. And— surprise— the extra kicks were not an issue.
"It was really awesome because nobody attempted it,” he explained. "Everybody came up clean and we all had peace of mind that nobody was going to try."
Implementing that technology at the Olympics would be welcome by the gold medalist. But until that happens, don’t expect him to stop taking advantage of the fact nobody who could penalize the swimmers is watching.
"I’m really for it. If they can bring it, it will better the sport. But I’m not willing to lose to someone that is doing it.”
Image above: Gold medalist Cameron van der Burgh hugs Christian Sprenger after the presentation ceremony. Photo by Getty Images
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Now that's the spirit !
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Demerest was Uncle Charlie on My 3 Sons. William Frawley played Fred Mertz. This was to help make Ethel (Vivian Vance) look older so Lucy would look younger.
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how is it cheating if everyone does it ?
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not everyone does it. Watch the video.
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Honesty in cheating. Loved it!
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it means everyone cheated.
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despicable.....how do you call yourself a champion. laying on the lane ropes gloating after a win....when you know you cheated. Kitajima dis the same thing in Athens, Hansen never does it......he played by the rules....like a sportsman does.
Hope the medal brings you nothing but bad luck and ill fortune. C H E A T E R !! -
He must feel so proud every time he looks at that medal, or shows it off to his friends and family, knowing he got it by cheating.
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Are you kidding??? Pleeeease! It's a RACE... As long as they're not using 'fins' or an outboard motor, who cares????
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Everyone was outraged when those Asian badminton players tried to lose a match in order to be possitioned in a more favorible spot in the next round. How could anyone think cheating for a win is okay. It is wrong as well. The metal should be taken away and the athlets who cheated should be kept from competing in the sport for some time.
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You don't deserve the Gold Metal. How can you be proud of your race and metal by cheating? Cheating is cheating no matter who else does it. I agree with "frankly" that your metal should be taken away and all the athletes that cheated barred from the sport for a given time. Just because the others cheat that makes it OK??????? WRONG! Have you read God's Ten Commandments? You actually stole that metal from the swimmers who do abide by the rules. I pity you that you had to CHEAT and take from your opponets that don't cheat to get that metal. I hope the Olympics start reviewing the films from underwater before a metal is rewarded to the receiver.
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what was the point of doing it and then telling everyone?
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I think he got caught, and rather than having it come out on its own, his agents are having him do damage control in advance. if he claims everybody does it, then perhaps people will look at it differently. Unfortunately, watching the videos, not everybody is doing it.
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no, not everyone else cheats. I watched the video over and over, and there are swimmers who only took the single kick. IOC should deal with these cheaters just like every other cheater. Strip the medals. If you are caught doping after the fact, you lose. Just because there are no judges underwater doesn't mean you have free license to cheat. You are not allowed an unfair advantage. I am surprised that other swimmers aren't arguing this.
Also, there are hundreds of thousands of swimmers who follow the rules. What does it say to them? IOC has to act, or they are just as culpable. -
There's a serious bias pervading the London Olympics which needs serious re-configuration.
Enough said. -
Go back and look at all of the swimming events. All of the swimmers cheat!! They try to stay underwater as long as the can using that dolphin kick.
