Chad Le Clos Admits to Being Haunted by 200 Fly Final in Rio

DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA - APRIL 13: Chad le Clos on his way to qulaifying time and gold medal in the 200m butterfly for mens final during the finals session on day 4 of the SA National Aquatic Championships and Olympic Trials on April 13 , 2016 at the Kings Park Aquatic Center pool in Durban, South Africa. Photo Credit / Anesh Debiky/Swim SA

Photo Courtesy: Anesh Debiky/Swimming South Africa

South Africa’s Chad Le Clos won two silver medals at the Olympics in Rio, in the 200 free and 100 fly, but he missed out on the podium in the event where he was the defending gold medalist, the 200 fly, as Michael Phelps re-claimed that gold medal.

Now, Le Clos tells IOL Sport in South Africa that the finish still haunts him, and he has his sights set on reclaiming that gold medal at this year’s World Championships in Budapest.

“I want to win that 200 fly badly. I am training for that and will hopefully win gold this year. So that is my goal. I want it that bad. I just want Phelps to come back. I’ve had nightmares about that. I wake up in the middle of the night in a sweat over that race,” he said, according to IOL.

Phelps, meanwhile, continues to squash any notion of a comeback and a re-match against Le Clos.

It won't happen… but it was a good race and wish @chadleclos all of the best in the future!? https://t.co/K2CZn8jZ6I

— Michael Phelps (@MichaelPhelps) February 20, 2017

In the IOL article, Le Clos discussed his change in coaches (from Graham Hill to Andrea Di Nino and James Gibson) and his move to Cape Town and how he believes those decisions will pay off in the long run.

“[The training] is very technical. I’ve learned a lot about my technique and stroke over the past month. I’m still pumping the mileage,” Le Clos said about the change in coaches and postal codes. Everyone has a similar approach by the way you structure it. I’ve done a lot of techniques, a lot of new stuff. It has been a positive change, I’m happy with everything and we will obviously see how the results go. It is still early days,” he said, according to IOL.

Read more from IOL Sport here.

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Halim Yussuf

7 years ago

Do you have any idea, of how many guys, wake up nights, sweating, because of that guy named Phelps.

Erin James Barnhart

7 years ago

Kathy Farrell

7 years ago

Get over it you lost best man won

Susan L. Lansbury

7 years ago

Why?! It was inevitable that time

Kathy Farrell

7 years ago

Michael had passion back and you big head and thought beat him again he trained hard for that race like suppose to in London the passion wasn’t there so get over yourself and the dreams will go away

Marco Wadey

7 years ago

He’s an idiot, really not the smartest swimmer out there. Wakes up in a sweat??? Come on Chad, enough with dramatizing everything. You lots, not only to Phelps but to several others. They should haunt you then as well.
Quit whining every opportunity you get. You will never be as good as MP. Deal with it.

Pete Fitzpatrick

7 years ago

the 200 fly itself is enough to give pause to anyone. I know, I do them regularly, and they are always a challenge. Definitely the most demanding swimming event with regards to combining speed, endurance, and technique.