It was meant to be a day of celebration for Cameron van der Burgh. But by lunch time yesterday, the Commonwealth and World Champion swimmer’s 24th birthday had turned into a nightmare. In a home burglary half of his trophy and medal collection was stolen.
The swimmer’s parents’ home in Pretoria was broken into and ransacked yesterday. His mother discovered the crime when she returned from a shopping trip.
“I had left for swim practice and my mum had gone out to the shops to grab a few things for my birthday party, so nobody was at home,” Van der Burgh told the Saturday Star last night. When my mum got home she could not believe her eyes. Almost everything had been taken. They broke through all our security bars and robbed us in broad daylight. I cannot believe this.”
He was distraught to find his most prized possessions gone.
“Around half of my medals and trophies were stolen, I am heartbroken. I know that insurance will definitely pay out, but that’s not the issue. There is no way to replace the medals and trophies that I won. It’s not like I can go and buy myself new ones,” said Van der Burgh, who will represent SA at the London Olympics.
“I’m really glad that nobody got hurt though, because that is the most important thing.”
He plans to contact the international swimming body to see if it is possible to replace the stolen medals. “It’s going to be very difficult to replace them as each medal and trophy that I won was made in a different country, and to replace them would be near impossible.”
Van der Burgh said he was also unhappy with the way the police had dealt with the case.
“When I got home from practice I called the police immediately, but they came half an hour later. On top of that none of the police officers even checked for any fingerprints…”
He is leaving for a training camp in Europe on Tuesday prior to the London Games, but said he feared that that the burglary had caused him to lose focus on the Olympics.
“Before the incident I was 100 percent focused on the upcoming games, now I have lost some of that focus.”
They planned to go ahead with his party last night, despite the break-in. “At the end of the day nobody was hurt and we should be thankful, so my mum and I thought, why not go ahead with the party and have a good time, and put the incident behind us.”
Showing posts with label swimming trophies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label swimming trophies. Show all posts
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Monday, May 28, 2012
Medals, Trophies Stolen from SA Swimming Star
South African champion swimmer Cameron van der Burgh has lost half his medals and trophies to thieves who burgled his parent's Pretoria home, it was reported on Saturday.
Van der Burgh, who will represent South Africa at the London Olympics, told the Saturday Star that the medals and trophies were "irreplaceable" as they had been won in several countries.
The robbers broke into the house on Friday while Van der Burgh was at swimming practice and his mother was shopping for his 24th birthday party that evening.
The breaststroke swimmer is the current world record holder in the 25m and 50m short course events as well as the 50m long course.
"I am really glad that nobody got hurt though, because that is the most important thing," Van der Burgh told the newspaper.
Van der Burgh said he would contact the international swimming body to see if it was possible to replace stolen medals.
On Tuesday the swimmer leaves for a training camp in Europe to prepare for the Olympics.
"Before the incident I was 100 per cent focused on the upcoming games. Now I have lost some of that focus," he was quoted as saying.
Van der Burgh, who will represent South Africa at the London Olympics, told the Saturday Star that the medals and trophies were "irreplaceable" as they had been won in several countries.
The robbers broke into the house on Friday while Van der Burgh was at swimming practice and his mother was shopping for his 24th birthday party that evening.
The breaststroke swimmer is the current world record holder in the 25m and 50m short course events as well as the 50m long course.
"I am really glad that nobody got hurt though, because that is the most important thing," Van der Burgh told the newspaper.
Van der Burgh said he would contact the international swimming body to see if it was possible to replace stolen medals.
On Tuesday the swimmer leaves for a training camp in Europe to prepare for the Olympics.
"Before the incident I was 100 per cent focused on the upcoming games. Now I have lost some of that focus," he was quoted as saying.
Monday, March 5, 2012
Highpoints Trophies Earned by Allured and Manning
The CT-33 Thunderbirds swim team competed at North Bay YMCA Invitational swim meet over the past weekend earning a team total of 12 gold, 15 silver, and 13 bronze medals throughout the weekend.
Travis Allured (12) and Jenna Manning (13) completed the five compulsory events in the Ironman competition earning the highest points trophies for their age groups.
Other T-Birds competing in the gruelling ironman competition included Michael Denomme (12) in second place, Jasmine Busschaert (11) in third, and Jillian Picco (11) with a gold medal in the 200 Fly.
In the sprints, Kylie Manning (9) and Ryan Venditti (11) earned third highest overall points earning three gold, three silver, and three bronze medals between them.
Silvers were awarded to Alex Papatheodorou (13), Jane Chirico (11), and Leah Chirico (9). Bronze medals were attained by Elle Louise George (12), Evan Lechlitner (15), and Olivia Lyle (10).
In the 11 and 12-year-old boys category, the medley team consisting of Travis Allured, Michael Denomme, Ryan Venditti, and William Hotson won gold in their relay.
Swimmers capturing top eight finishes were Ashleigh Brady (13), William Hotson (11), Madison Whittet (14), Jaime Reynolds (14).
Competitive rookie swimmer Nathalie Reid (12) earned personal bests and new times in all of her events.
The team is grateful for the fine preparation by coaches Pierre Simard, Penny Lecour and Amy Jackson who are pleased with the team’s dedication to training and their resulting performances.
The team thanks Penny and Amy for their on deck coaching at the past meet.
Travis Allured (12) and Jenna Manning (13) completed the five compulsory events in the Ironman competition earning the highest points trophies for their age groups.
Other T-Birds competing in the gruelling ironman competition included Michael Denomme (12) in second place, Jasmine Busschaert (11) in third, and Jillian Picco (11) with a gold medal in the 200 Fly.
In the sprints, Kylie Manning (9) and Ryan Venditti (11) earned third highest overall points earning three gold, three silver, and three bronze medals between them.
Silvers were awarded to Alex Papatheodorou (13), Jane Chirico (11), and Leah Chirico (9). Bronze medals were attained by Elle Louise George (12), Evan Lechlitner (15), and Olivia Lyle (10).
In the 11 and 12-year-old boys category, the medley team consisting of Travis Allured, Michael Denomme, Ryan Venditti, and William Hotson won gold in their relay.
Swimmers capturing top eight finishes were Ashleigh Brady (13), William Hotson (11), Madison Whittet (14), Jaime Reynolds (14).
Competitive rookie swimmer Nathalie Reid (12) earned personal bests and new times in all of her events.
The team is grateful for the fine preparation by coaches Pierre Simard, Penny Lecour and Amy Jackson who are pleased with the team’s dedication to training and their resulting performances.
The team thanks Penny and Amy for their on deck coaching at the past meet.
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