Chad le Clos exclusive: Chasing Michael Phelps' record and unfinished Olympic business
In an exclusive interview for the Olympics.com Podcast, the South African sensation spoke about returning to the podium in Paris 2024 and reaching his fifth Olympics at LA 2028.
Swimming
South African swimming superstar Chad le Clos’ accomplishments in the pool, spanning more than a decade, are matched only by the audacity of his dreams.
Targetting his fourth appearance at the Olympic Games, Le Clos, who won gold at London 2012 and whose last Olympic medals were two silvers at Rio 2016, has his mind set on ascending the podium in Paris 2024. In an exclusive interview with the Olympics.com Podcast, the butterfly and freestyler expressed his desire for another gold.
“Of course, for Paris, we are aiming for medals. There is no secret about that. Gold would be an absolute dream,” Le Clos said on the eve of the Doha 2024 World Aquatics Championships.
“That would be one of the best comeback stories ever. But baby steps. Let's just get myself to Doha. Let's get myself to the Olympic final, and then we'll see what happens.”
Winning gold at this year’s Olympic Games would see Le Clos knock U.S. icon Michael Phelps off his perch as the oldest swimmer to win a gold medal in any butterfly event at the global showpiece. Phelps won the 200m butterfly gold medal aged 31 years and 40 days, reclaiming the crown he conceded to Le Clos in London in 2012.
Chad le Clos: Unfinished Olympic business
Le Clos, who turns 32 in April, has some unfinished business at the Olympic Games after going home empty-handed in Tokyo 2020 (in 2021). Winning a medal of any colour – taking his tally to five – would cement his legacy as one of South Africa’s greatest all-time sports stars.
Already South Africa’s most decorated Olympian with his gold and three silver medals, Le Clos hopes to add to his nation’s success on the global stage in recent times. The country’s national rugby team won a record fourth World Cup crown in France in 2023, while Dricus du Plessis became the first South African Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) belt holder in January.
“It's just a winning time for us (South Africa) at the moment. And I think my motivation is just to be the best ever South African has ever had in all sports. That’s ultimately my goal,” Le Clos said.
“I've done it now at the Olympics, and another medal or two would secure that. I've got all the accolades with the World Championships and the Commonwealth Games. But for me, I just want to go down as the best ever sportsman South Africa has ever had. That's truly my goal.”
But first, he will be looking to gain some positive momentum in the build-up to Paris, starting with the World Championships in Doha.
Le Clos will be making his long-awaited return to the 50-metre pool for his eighth World Long-Course Championships after missing last year’s showpiece due to illness and prematurely exiting the 2022 edition. He last stepped onto the podium at the global showpiece in 2019, Gwanju, Republic of Korea, winning the 100m and 200m butterfly bronze medals, despite a niggling groin hernia.
Chad le Clos: A Paris 2024 rehearsal
Managing expectations for Doha, Le Clos said he was content with his preparations for the global gala, which would serve as a rehearsal for Paris 2024. Le Clos admits he is battle-hardened in short-course swimming but needed to go through the rounds in the 50m pool.
“Of course, a medal would be unbelievable in Doha. I think that would be ahead of schedule. But yeah, the top five realistically would be unbelievable”, said Le Clos.
Le Clos’ last outing in the 50m pool at an international level is the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, where he won silver in the 200m butterfly, which he described as a ‘disaster’.
He has since taken action to get back to winning ways, including joining up with Dirk Lange, who coached former 100m breaststroke world record holder and Olympic champion Cameron van der Burgh in Frankfurt.
Chad le Clos: A bow on an illustrious career
The change seemed to have reinvigorated Le Clos with short-course success at the 2022 World Swimming Championships in Melbourne, where he won the 100-200m butterfly golden double. He got a further confidence boost, breaking his own African record in the 200m butterfly.
“We have a few targets we want to hit, but it's really a stepping stone towards Paris. And I know they won't be, and I think the defending world champs and all my events will not be there in Doha,” he said.
“It’s been a while since I've actually gone through the ranks through heats, semis and finals of the World Championship.”
Casting his gaze beyond a weighty 2024 competition schedule, Le Clos would not entertain any notions about retirement. Le Clos hopes to surpass American Ryan Lochte as the greatest short-course swimmer ever in individual events. The South African needs two more titles to tie Lochte’s record 14 individual gold medals at the World Short-Course Championships.
To put tie a bow around his illustrious career, Le Clos hopes to become the first South African to reach five Olympic Games should he qualify for LA 2028.