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Chad Le Clos 2.0: “I’m Going To Be Competitive In Paris” (Interview)

2022 FINA WORLD CUP – TORONTO

Olympic champion Chad le Clos continued his campaign at the 2022 World Cup series in Toronto when he won the 100 butterfly with a 48.88. That makes le Clos 2-for-2 so far in the 100 butterfly thus far as he won the event at the Berlin stop one week prior with a 48.58.

After his race on Friday night, Chad le Clos chatted with us to discuss his season thus far and his plans down the road. Le Clos was very clear that he is dialed in on 2024, referring to the Paris Olympic Games, which are just over a year and a half away.

“I’m gonna be competitive in Paris,” said le Clos. “I want to compete, I want to be the best that I can be.” Le Clos has four Olympic medals to his name, having won 200 butterfly gold in 2012, 100 butterfly silver in both 2012 and 2016, and 200 freestyle silver in 2016. At his third Olympic Games, le Clos didn’t reach the podium, swimming to 5th in the 200 fly and 18th in the 100.

Le Clos explained his displeasure with the commentators at the Tokyo Olympics, saying “they spoke about Chad trying to be on TV, going out hard.” “I’ve had a hell of a two and a half years. Like people don’t really know what happened but it was a hell of a two and a half years.”

After racing in Berlin, le Clos discussed his struggles with mental health over the past few years and how they interfered with his swimming career.

By hitting two 48s, le Clos has gotten back to a level of racing that we haven’t seen from him in roughly two years. Before his Berlin swim, the last time le Clos hit a time under 49 seconds in the short course 100 fly was in November 2020 when he swam a 48.45. Other than that, le Clos’ 11 swims in the 48-second range came between 2012 and 2018.

In addition to the 48.58 100 butterfly that he swam in Berlin, le Clos hit a 1:49.62 to claim victory and trail his own PB of 1:48.32 from back in 2018. He also raced the 50 butterfly, hitting a 22.21 for second place to Dylan Carter‘s 22.13. Le Clos will finish out the World Cup series in Indianapolis from November 4 – 6 and will then begin working towards this year’s short course finale: the Short Course World Championships in Melbourne, Australia.

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Owlmando
2 years ago

He looks good rn but theres still some time left, should take one out the phelps playbook and let the swimming do the talking

Meathead
2 years ago

Would love to see CLC medal in ‘24. As most know, swimming is about your body of work. To put up 12 years of Olympic medals would be an impressive resume before Chad enters the USMS Octagon

Lpman
2 years ago

He will not advance past semis

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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