Cameron van der Burgh and Chad le Clos added a gold medal apiece to South Africa’s medal tally in the Commonwealth Games in Monday night.
Le Clos added victory in the 100m butterfly to his 200m butterfly win. This is Le Clos’s fifth medal in Glasgow, having won bronze in the 50m butterfly, silver in the 4x100m freestyle relay and bronze in the 4x200m freestyle.
Van Der Burgh missed out on gold in the 100m breaststroke but won the 50m event.
He described the win as the most emotional of his career.
“It was one of the hardest races I have ever had in my life,” he told SuperSport.com
“I think the mental victory is worth it as much as a gold medal. The last 48 hours has been really difficult for me.”
Van Der Burgh admitted that he struggled to find motivation for the Commonwealth Games, saying, “Coming into the competition I had to reassess the values and love I have for the sport and I think after the final of the 100m I had no motivation.”
“Mentally it has been so emotional for me. I have been talking to my mum a lot, so to come out tonight was one of the most priceless medals I will ever earn.”
