Clyde Lewis is a versatile swimmer from Queensland, Australia. He has had international success, picking up medals in medley, freestyle and backstroke events. Lewis trains at St Peters Western swimming club, which has earned Australia’s top club numerous times, under head coach Michael Bohl.
In 2015 Lewis earned a grant from Swimming Australia and named to the nextGEN squad. The squad is comprised of the nations most promising young swimmers to help their successes from junior levels translate to the senior stage.
2015 World Junior Championships
In singapore, Lewis stole the show in 200 meter medley in a dominating performance. The field was close after the first 50 with Lewis sat in third, but he pulled ahead on the backstroke leg and his lead grew from there. He took gold, more than one and a half seconds ahead of second place.
He had another stand out performance in the 4×200 meter freestyle relay, helping Australia to a silver. His split of 1:48.34 was the 3rd fastest of all swimmers behind USA’s Maxime Rooney and Grant Shoults. Rooney and Shoults previously went 1-2 in the 200 freestyle, but Lewis didn’t compete in the event. His other events were 50 and 100 meter backstroke where he reached the semi-final in both placing 13th and 9th respectively.
2015 Commonwealth Youth Games
In Samoa, Lewis showed why he was considered as one of the most versatile young swimmers in the world, picking up 8 medals to help Australia top the medal table. It was a busy meet for the young Aussie, swimming a total of 17 races in 10 events.
In his first event, 200 meter freestyle, Lewis took gold in 1:48.88. That time would have been enough for 4th at the World Junior Championships. Two events later he was back in the pool for 100 meter backstroke and back on the podium claiming a silver medal in 56.19. His next individual event brought him some more hardware. A gold in 400 meter medley, an impressive swim almost 7 seconds head of 2nd place. His time 4:20.87 was a new best time for Lewis.
After a 4th in his next individual swim, 50 backstroke, Lewis showed his freestyle talent once again in the 400. He finished 3rd in a new best time 3:58.40. His final individual swim was 200 medley, arguably his best event. He didn’t disappoint, picking up his last gold of the games in 2:02.40, more than two and a half seconds ahead of silver.
Lewis’ other medals came from relays, with two golds in the 400 and 800 relays and a silver in 400 medley relay. Australia finished 4th in 200 medley relay with Lewis swimming the backstroke leg.
His final medal tally came to 5 golds, 2 silver and 1 bronze.
2018 Commonwealth Games
After coming into the meet as only a reserve for the 200/400 IM since Mitch Larkin opted out of them, Lewis ended up making a big impact in both. In the 400 IM Lewis earned a gold medal (4:13.12), besting the entire field to the surprise of many, while in the 200 IM he again managed a podium appearance as he nabbed a bronze (1:58.18)
2018 Pan Pacific Championships
After qualifying for the final of the men’s 200 free in a best time of 1:46.54, Clyde was chosen to lead off the Aussie men’s 4×200 relay, where he again repeated his time of 1:46.54 to aid the Aussie men for a silver in the relay.
2019 World Championships
Lewis started his world championships in the men’s 4×100 free relay, where he split 47.61 on the 2nd leg to help Australia get a bronze medal.
In the 200 free, Lewis swam a huge personal best in semi finals, clocking 1:44.90 to have the top seed headed into finals. In the final heat, Lewis faded down the stretch to 6th in a time of 1:45.78.
Lewis got redemption in the men’s 4×200 free relay on Day 6, leading off the squad in 1:45.58 and helping the team to a gold medal and new oceanian record of 7:00.85.
Lewis continued his meet on Day 7, swimming 2nd on the mixed 4×100 free relay (48.18), which went on to touch for 2nd and a silver medal.
