Van der Burgh finished in a time of 58,46 seconds, 0,12 faster than the previous record held by Australian Brenton Rickard.

After a victory Van der Burgh said, “Tonight, as I came in, I said to myself, a man can change his stars, you can write your own destiny tonight. I had my chance and I took it.”

“I really don’t care about the world record. Once you become an Olympic champion you join the club, and they can’t take it away from you, one day I can tell my kids, when they are watching the Olympic Games that I won that,” he added.