Chad le Clos has become the most decorated Commonwealth Games swimmer, after swimming his way into history!
The South African swimmer won the final in a time of 1 minute 54 seconds, lowering the mark of 1 minute 55.07 seconds he set at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
The victory was never in doubt as he maintained a healthy lead for the duration of the four lengths as he improved on his own Games record but Le Clos says that the swim was ‘all business’.
“I wanted to get the three-peat,” said Le Clos, who shot to fame at the 2012 London Olympics by stunning Phelps in the 200m butterfly in one of the sport’s great upsets.
“No one’s done the triple before so – Michael Phelps of Commonwealth! It means a lot. Tonight was all about history – it was all business.”
Le Clos joined the ranks of Gold winners at the 2018 Commonwealth Games for his win in the 50m Butterfly final on Friday, but missed out on medals in the 200m freestyle and relay event.
However, that medal made him South Africa’s most successful Commonwealth Games athlete in history. Saturday’s gold took his total to 14, surpassing another swimmer Roland Schoeman who had won 12 medals.
South Africa’s medals tally is now at six, with another veteran of the pool – Cameron van der Burgh – adding a bronze in the 100m breaststroke just moments after Le Clos’ effort.
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