CHAD le Clos produced a stunning performance when he stormed to victory in the 200m freestyle at the World Short Course Championships in Doha last night.
Le Clos was third with 50m to go, but then he hit his trademark turbo to out-sprint Russian Danilo Izotov and American veteran Ryan Lochte, the defending champion and world record holder.
The South African clocked 1min 41.45sec and then celebrated as he did when he beat Michael Phelps to the Olympic gold in 2012, propelling himself into the air and punching the water. And he shed a trademark tear later as the SA anthem played while he stood atop the podium. Le Clos, who also qualified for tonight's 100m butterfly final, is expected to take gold in all three fly races.
He was initially scheduled to compete in only the three butterfly events, but the 200m freestyle was a late and welcome addition.
This newest international success means Le Clos will at least have a third medal chance come the 2016 Olympics, along with the 100m and 200m fly.
Cameron van der Burgh, SA's other Olympic swimming champion in London, qualified for tonight's 100m breaststroke final.
Van der Burgh, who had shoulder surgery in August, was fifth fastest in the semifinals with a 57.18sec effort, and he will need to go substantially faster to catch front-runner Adam Peaty of England, who beat him at the Commonwealth Games.
By contrast Le Clos was the quickest in the 100m fly semifinals, clocking 49.25 ahead of Australian Tommaso D'Orsogna and Tom Shields of the US.
Le Clos would have also swum in the 4x100m freestyle relay final last night, but SA failed to qualify.
His teammates managed to finish only 11th overall in the morning heats, more than three seconds slower than the eighth-ranked nation.
Le Clos strikes gold again in Doha final
CHAD le Clos produced a stunning performance when he stormed to victory in the 200m freestyle at the World Short Course Championships in Doha last night.
Le Clos was third with 50m to go, but then he hit his trademark turbo to out-sprint Russian Danilo Izotov and American veteran Ryan Lochte, the defending champion and world record holder.
The South African clocked 1min 41.45sec and then celebrated as he did when he beat Michael Phelps to the Olympic gold in 2012, propelling himself into the air and punching the water. And he shed a trademark tear later as the SA anthem played while he stood atop the podium. Le Clos, who also qualified for tonight's 100m butterfly final, is expected to take gold in all three fly races.
He was initially scheduled to compete in only the three butterfly events, but the 200m freestyle was a late and welcome addition.
This newest international success means Le Clos will at least have a third medal chance come the 2016 Olympics, along with the 100m and 200m fly.
Cameron van der Burgh, SA's other Olympic swimming champion in London, qualified for tonight's 100m breaststroke final.
Van der Burgh, who had shoulder surgery in August, was fifth fastest in the semifinals with a 57.18sec effort, and he will need to go substantially faster to catch front-runner Adam Peaty of England, who beat him at the Commonwealth Games.
By contrast Le Clos was the quickest in the 100m fly semifinals, clocking 49.25 ahead of Australian Tommaso D'Orsogna and Tom Shields of the US.
Le Clos would have also swum in the 4x100m freestyle relay final last night, but SA failed to qualify.
His teammates managed to finish only 11th overall in the morning heats, more than three seconds slower than the eighth-ranked nation.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending
Latest Videos