http://www.fina-budapest2017.com/en/news/363/swimming-chad-le-clos-to-blast-over-200m-freestyle
Swimming: Chad Le Clos to blast over
200M freestyle
2017.03.22. 09:37 CET
One of the most engaging icons of the international swimming community has serious goals
to fulfil at the 17th FINA World Championships. The Rio Olympics was not as successful for
him as he wished (although he managed to take a silver medal home) and he said it wouldn’t
be a big tragedy if his plans hadn’t come true this summer. Nonetheless, he is known for his
passion for racing and winning, Chad will arrive to Budapest with triumph on his mind for
sure. The South African Olympic champion raced against his close friend, Hungarian legend
László Cseh in the 200M butterfly event at the World Championships in Kazan two years
ago, where in the end the Hungarian swimmer beat him. We are looking forward to seeing
their next competition.
“… definitely that pizza-like dish with sour cream on top. (…) Lángos, yes. You mustn’t get
too close to your peers after eating because of the garlic in it – said Chad about his very
much liked Hungarian dish in an earlier interview in Hódmezővásárhely.
He adores the location of the 17th FINA World Championships, Hungary, the Hungarian
people, including the country’s swimmers - and the liking is mutual of course. Chad is one
of the most adored characters of the international aquatic community, his charming
personality captivates the fans and the FINA family completely.
Chad Le Clos in the centre of the Hungarian town, Hódmezővásárhely, in 2013 (Photo:
Sport24)
It should be noted that Chad almost became a football player (he is a fan of Manchester
United), in his own words: “I could not see my future in football, but I did in swimming. It is
interesting, the decision was really hard and I loved football ever more than swimming for a
long time still after my final choice. I had injuries but I chose this way because I imagined
myself performing better in the pool than on the field.”
He has chosen wisely, his tally - an Olympic gold medal (London 2012, 200M butterfly),
three Olympic silver medals (London 2012, 100M butterfly and Rio 2016, 200M freestyle
and 100M butterfly), three World Championships triumphs, four golds at the
Commonwealth Games, nine Short Course World titles – does not look so bad after all. He
won at the World Championships in Barcelona in 2013 in the 100M and 200M butterfly
events, whilst he arrived at the second place behind his good friend, László Cseh in the
200M butterfly, but finished first in the 100M butterfly in Kazan in 2015.
The Rio Olympics were not as successful as he initially hoped – nevertheless the South
African swimmer was part of the 100M butterfly event’s historical ‘triple’ finish.
“It was a great disappointment. There are very few positives to take from there. I make no
excuses for what happened in Rio. I was in good shape, the best shape of my life, but things
went wrong. There were reasons why but I won’t speak on that one in front of a camera.
Champions must accept defeats humbly” – Chad explained his feelings after the 2016
Games. “To speak about why it all happened, it is not how true champions behave. You have
to win like a champion, and you have to lose like a champion.”
Chad’s greatest Olympic disappointment last year was not being able to defend his title
acquired in London over 200M butterfly, he only finished fourth this time in Rio. He was
somewhat consoled by the 100M butterfly’s legendary finish, where he came in at the
second place tied along with his idol Michael Phelps and László Cseh behind the
Singaporean Joseph Schooling.
The victory ceremony of the 100M butterfly was one of the most beautiful ceremonies in the
history of the Olympic Games and swimming, the three silver medallist stood on the podium
hand in hand together.
Three silver medallists from Rio:
“It was my idea to stand up together like this. I told them behind the scenes to do like the
relay teams, to grab each other’s hand, the fans would love it. Our race was almost the very
last for Michael, and László won a medal as well. It was frenetic, this unique occurrence
almost measured up to a gold medal, at least for me. I must say that it was a very good
feeling altogether, to be part of the history, to be part of this trio” – said the South African
champion about the famous victory ceremony in Rio.
Phelps has always been his idol, in Chad’s opinion people learnt the greater possibilities
given by swimming thanks to Michael Phelps. “I wish I could impress the people too” – said
earlier Le Clos.
He wished to have Michael Phelps in the competitive swimming for an additional year and
he wanted the big trio to race against each other again, and also with a new, young, much
talented face of Hungarian swimming, Tamás Kenderesi. Phelps made his final retirement
after Rio, yet Chad believes: “Nobody should doubt that fantastic butterfly finals will happen
in Budapest and I will be there on freestyle, too”.
After the 100m butterfly final in Kazan, 2015:
Chad loves racing, swimming and big challenges (butterfly swimming alone is a great
physical challenge in itself) and the feedbacks. His statement hints a lot, next to butterfly
the South African shall be there in the freestyle races also at the Danube Arena this July.
“It’s always hard to introduce a new style into our programme and prepare for it, but I think
the 200M freestyle will be in focus for me this summer. I am also planning to compete at the
Commonwealth Games in 2018 over 200M freestyle, I love good races and chances, and last
year’s winner, the Australian 400M champion will be there at the Commonwealth Games.
We will see what I am capable of. I am sure I would like to compete in Tokyo in the freestyle
races, and I will definitely want to take revenge in the 200M butterfly event.”
It doesn’t matter what happened in Rio, Chad did not have to explain anything (and Le Clos
is not the type who looks for excuses, he doesn’t hide after the setbacks, his professionalism
is enviable) because the life set great trials for him. Just before the Rio Olympic Games he
announced that both of his parents were fighting against the most feared illness, cancer.
Chad, who is known to have deep relationship with his family, approached the Games with
this sad preoccupation on his mind.
With the big boss
Chad Le Clos (@chadleclos92) által megosztott bejegyzés, 2017. Jan 28., 09:39 PST
His father, Bert created an adage before, after Chad winning the golden medal in London
during his BBC interview, he commented on his son’s performance as “unbelieve” six times.
This became part of Chad’s image and motto since then.
The 25-year-old athlete demonstrated his emotional, whole hearted side in Windsor last
year. At the World Short Course Swimming Championships, right after the victory ceremony
of the 200M butterfly, he walked up to his parents and hung the gold medal around his
mother’s neck and gave the mascot to his father – then made his way to the mixed zone to
the so called mixed zone empty handed.
“I didn’t plan ahead, it just happened. It came from my heart.” – commented Chad on this
warm gesture.
150 days to go #budapest2017 #redemption #CleC
Chad Le Clos (@chadleclos92) által megosztott bejegyzés, 2017. Febr 15., 09:30 PST
Dr Csaba Sós, Head Coach of the Hungarian National Team highlighted in his recent
statement that racing as a duel – as Chad does - with many tactics is to be taught to the
future generations of the aquatic discipline:
“Not many people know just how clever this South African swimmer is. Not many people can
copy his tactics, I have to say. He started really fast and strong in Kazan in the 200M fly,
later at 100 meter turn he began to get slower, like he couldn’t bear the speed anymore.
One swimmer, if he or she wants to win, will have to think about when to start the attack;
the swimmer will get the adrenalin bomb, which will make the speed unwittingly change.
The swimmer will start to swim even faster as it was planned before and will not keep up
the speed till the very end, will become stiff over the last 15-20 meters; the butterfly
swimmers will only count the tiles at the bottom of the pool. Chad was counting on this and
he was right. If László Cseh hadn’t have such great routine, Chad would have taken home
the golden medal. Professionally it was a wonderful duel, it was great fight” – expalined
Csaba Sós.
Chad Le Clos
Born in Durban, South Africa on April 12, 1992.
Best results: Olympic gold medal (London 2012, 200M butterfly), three Olympic silver
medals (London 2012, 100M butterfly and Rio 2016, 200M freestyle and 100M butterfly),
three World Championships gold medals (Barcelona 2013 and Kazan 2015 ,100M butterfly
and Barcelona 2013, 200M butterfly) four gold medals at the Commonwealth Games, nine
golden medals at the World Short Course Swimming Championships