Chad le Clos Wins 20th Commonwealth Games Medal, Ties Emma McKeon’s Record for Most in Any Sport
After representing South Africa in international competition for more than a decade-and-a-half, Chad le Clos is now one of the most prolific medal winners in the history of the Commonwealth Games. The 34-year-old best known for edging out Michael Phelps in the 200 butterfly final at the London Olympics has won a pair of relay medals this week in Glasgow, Scotland, bringing his career total to 20 across five editions of the Games.
On day one, Le Clos anchored the South African men’s bronze-medal-winning 400 freestyle relay in 48.29 for his 19th medal, breaking a tie with shooters Phil Adams (Australia) and Mick Gault (England) for most medals by male athletes in any sport. Now, le Clos has added a 20th medal for his role in South Africa’s mixed 400 medley relay; he swam in prelims before his teammates scored silver behind Australia in the final.
With that result, le Clos moved into a tie with Australia’s Emma McKeon for the most medals by any athlete at the Commonwealth Games. He will have a chance at breaking that tie if South Africa can reach the podium in the 400 medley relay, a realistic outcome given the presence of backstroke star Pieter Coetze on the leadoff leg and Michael Houlie on breaststroke. Le Clos also finished fifth in the 100 fly in Glasgow with a time of 51.46.
For his career, le Clos has earned seven gold medals at the Commonwealth Games. He won the 200 fly and 400 IM at the 2010 edition of the event in Delhi, and then he took 100 and 200 fly top honors in2014, the last time the Games were held in Glasgow. In 2018, le Clos swept all three butterfly events. Globally, he has four Olympic medals, three silvers to go along with his 2012 gold, as well as seven medals at the long course World Championships and an incredible 20 at the short course version, with 16 total world titles in butterfly events.
