Day 15 of the 18th FINA World Championships in Gwangju, South Korea
The golden boy of South African swimming won his second medal of the championships adding to the 200m butterfly bronze from earlier this week extending the country’s tally to three medals. Tatjana Schoenmaker became the first woman to win a medal at the global showpiece the night before when she won the 200m breaststroke silver medal.
Le Clos’ has won a total of seven medals at the global showpiece since he made his debut in 2009.
Defending champion Caeleb Dressel of the United States continued to make waves at the championships winning the race in a time of 49.66 seconds, 0.16s slower than the world record he set the day before. Russia’s Andrei Minakov touched second in 50.83 with Le Clos rounding off the podium with 51.16. Hungarian Kristof Milak, who won the 200 butterfly earlier in the week when he shattered American icon Michael Phelps’ world record had to be content with fourth place.
"I am very happy with my medals, considering the circumstances, it’s been a great week. ”A few weeks ago I didn’t know if I would be swimming or not, so to come here and get the two bronzes are great. It is not what I wanted…tonight in my crazy mind I thought I could win, but we will see what happens,” Le Clos said.
“We will go back to the drawing board, I am happy to go home, I haven’t been there since April, which is tough for me. I will spend a few weeks with my family, recoup.” concluded Le Clos.
Zane Waddell will be looking to add to South Africa’s medal harvest after he qualified for the 50m backstroke final on Sunday. The United States-based swimmer was the fifth-fastest qualifier in the evening’s semi-finals clocking 24.72 seconds. “It was okay, I was quicker two weeks ago at the World Student Games, so I am stoked to make the final. It is anyone’s race tomorrow…I am really excited and super happy with my race.” Waddell said.
National coach Graham Hill said he was delighted with the South African team's performances at the championships. "We started to come good towards the end of the meet, some good swims with Chad getting the bronze medals in the 100m and 200m 'fly and Tatjana getting silver in the 200m breaststroke, then Zane Waddell made it through to the final of the 50m backstroke, so South Africa is finishing strong in Gwangju.” Hill said.
SA Swimming Team in Gwangju, Korea:
Men
Alaric Basson, Michael Houlie, Chad le Clos, Aryton Sweeney, Bradley Tandy, Christopher Reid, Eben Vorster.
Women
Emma Chelius, Kaylene Corbett, Dune Coetzee, Erin Gallagher Tayla Lovemore, Rebecca Meder, Tatjana Schoenmaker, Nathania van Niekerk, Mariella Venter.
ENDS
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