\t\t \t\t \t\t\t\t\t \t\t \t\t <\/p>\n
\u201cKeep on keeping on,\u201d the motto of local swimmer and gold medal winner Cameron van der Burgh while he was in matric at Crawford College Pretoria, has certainly paid off as he made the country proud by winning SA\u2019s first gold medal in the London Olympics. <\/p>\n
Van der Burgh not only won a medal but also set a new world record by winning the men\u2019s 100m breaststroke in 58.46sec which was 0.12 seconds faster than the previous record held by Brenton Rickard of Australia. <\/p>\n
Congratulations poured in yesterday for SA\u2019s golden boy and a statement from the City of Tshwane read: \u201cOn behalf of the 2.5 million residents of the Capital City of South Africa, we would like to congratulate Cameron on his magnificent performance. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe would also like to wish the rest of the team |well and call on all South Africans to support Team South Africa during the duration of the Olympics. <\/p>\n
\u201cIn line with the City of Tshwane\u2019s vision to become the leading African capital city of excellence, Van der Burgh is the pride of the continent by winning the first medal for Africa at the London Olympics.\u201d <\/p>\n
Minister of Sport and Recreation Fikile Mbalula praised Van der Burgh for his performance. <\/p>\n
\u201cVan der Burgh brought smiles and happiness to South African hearts. We knew and believed when Team SA took off that they would create waves and move mountains in London. We are now counted among the best in the world,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
\u201cI believe the best is yet to come out of London,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
Crawford College principal Andr\u00e9 Botha said he was extremely proud of Van der Burgh. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe are extremely proud of Cameron\u2019s achievements at the 2012 Olympics and along with his countrymen would like to congratulate him on living his dream and being such an inspiration to fellow Crawfordians. We continue to support him and wish him well for the future,\u201d Botha said. <\/p>\n
Messages also poured in on social networks like Facebook and Twitter. <\/p>\n
Moffat Mabaso wrote on Van der Burgh\u2019s Facebook page: \u201cWell done, you are a hero.\u201d <\/p>\n
Dolsie Naidoo wrote: \u201cWell done Cameron! South Africa is very proud of you.\u201d <\/p>\n
Alene Candy said: \u201cYou have done our nation proud Cameron.\u201d <\/p>\n
Van der Burgh joined Crawford College as a Grade 10 pupil in 2004, said Botha. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe specifically joined our school for its swimming programme which allowed him the freedom to pursue his swimming dream and complete his matric with the support of a dedicated team of teachers. <\/p>\n
\u201cDuring these years he often spent time out of class and out of the country,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
Botha said Van der Burgh addressed one of the school assemblies in 2010 when he told the pupils about how to live a life in which you pursued your dreams \u2013 something which he had now done. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe has always had a good business brain which is now being put to work as a BCom student,\u201d Botha said. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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