Chad Le Clos First Man To 100 World Cup Gold Medals

DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA - APRIL 15: Chad le Clos swims the qualifying time swim in the 100m time trail medley relay during the finals session on day 6 of the SA National Aquatic Championships and Olympic Trials on April 15 , 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

With his win in the 100 fly at the World Cup in Dubai Wednesday evening, Chad le Clos now owns an incredible 107 gold medals on the FINA World Cup circuit. Two stops ago in Moscow, he became the first man to ever crack 100 golds.

Le Clos won the 100 fly in 49.14, completing the sweep of the butterfly events in Dubai after winning the 50 and 200-meter distances Tuesday. He also took second behind Vladimir Morozov in the 50 free.

Wow humbled to be the first man to 100 World Cup Gold medals, thank u for the Unbelievable support #teamSA #CleC #100club

— Chad Le Clos (@chadleclos) October 5, 2016

Le Clos first made his imprint on the World Cup in 2009, winning three gold medals, two of them coming at the stop in Durban—the last time the World Cup went to South Africa. He then won 23 gold medals in 2011, three in 2012, 24 in 2013, 28 in 2014, 11 in 2015 and now 15 already this season. He has won the overall World Cup title three times: in 2011, 2013 and 2014. Le Clos also currently ranks second in this year’s male standings behind Morozov.

Amazingly, le Clos has won ten different events at one point or another at World Cup meets. That list of events includes the 50/100/200 free, 200 back, 50/100/200 fly and 100/200/400 IM. He has won every stop of the World Cup in a single event twice (200 fly in 2013 and 50 fly in 2014) and could be in position to the same in all three butterfly events this year, as he is five-for-five so far in each of the three butterfly races. The World Cup resumes Saturday, Oct. 8 in Doha.

The 24-year-old South African has also won four Olympic medals—the gold medal from his upset win over Michael Phelps in the 200 fly in 2012, along with three silvers—as well as nine World titles, three long course and two short course.

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Bill Bell

7 years ago

How about the women’s Olympic medleys gold-medalist from Rio?

I’d think she’d be in the four-figure column by now!

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David Rieder - Senior Writer

7 years ago

Reply to Bill Bell

Close, Bill. 189 gold medals for Hosszu. She figures to hit 200 during the next cluster.

Trudy Marais

7 years ago

Wanda Buu

7 years ago

awesome athlete!!