Fifth & Final World Championships for Cameron van der Burgh?

When Cameron van der Burgh takes to the blocks in Kazan it will be his fifth World Championships.

The South African has already won seven world medals including two golds – both in the 50m breaststroke in 2009 and 2013 – as well as a silver and four bronzes.

Cameron has also competed at two Olympics, winning the two-length title in London three years ago in what was then a world record time.

When asked if Russia will be his final World Championships, the 27-year-old said: “I’ll see. It depends how I do, if I am still in the top then there is no reason to retire.

At the end of the day it’s your  living, it’s your money.

“I don’t think I am going to quit now and especially because I am enjoying it.

“I did think about it last year but I have found renewed energy for the sport and enjoying it so as long as I am still swimming well and close to the top – I love the sport and would love to continue.”

Over the last year Cameron has seen fellow Arena swimmer Adam Peaty eclipse his world records over both 50m and 100m.

The pair are on very good terms and met for the first time at last year’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Adam made the swimming world shudder in April when he became the first man to duck under 58 seconds for the 100m when he won the British title in 57.92secs at the same Aquatic Centre in London where Cameron had won Olympic gold.

It took more than half a second off Cameron’s world record who admits he had thought it would take a 57second swim to win Olympic gold next year in Rio de Janeiro, but he had not expected that mark to be breached quite yet.

It means attention has switched away from Cameron to Adam going into Kazan but he is giving little thought to the fact he is now the chaser rather than the chased.

“It won’t really change that much for me,” says Cameron.

“In Olympic year the goal for me was to go 58 low: I knew if I wanted to win the Olympic Games that would be the time I would have to have gone.

“I never base it on any other people.

“So there are so many factors that come into play: for me I just try to focus on my own lane. Unless Adam jumps into my lane – then there’d be a bit of a problem.”

“Kazan, a mixture of swimming and flolklore”: find out more about the city!

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