Chad le Clos 19th medal sets Commonwealth Games men's record
South Africa’s Chad le Clos won relay bronze to become the most decorated male athlete in Commonwealth Games history.
By Lucas Ferreira · Science & Environment Writer
2 min read
Chad le Clos’s 19th medal at the Commonwealth Games made the South African swimmer the most decorated male athlete in the event’s history, The Associated Press reported. The 34-year-old reached the mark with bronze in the men’s 4x100-metre freestyle relay.
The medal moved le Clos ahead of two shooters who had shared the men’s record: Phil Adams of Australia and Mick Gault of England, according to AP. A Reuters photo caption identified South Africa’s relay bronze medallists as Pieter Coetze, Guy Brooks, Ruard van Renen and le Clos.
How many Commonwealth Games medals does Chad le Clos have?
Le Clos now has 19 Commonwealth Games medals: seven golds, four silvers and eight bronzes, AP reported. The total covers a Commonwealth career that began in 2010, when he competed in New Delhi as an 18-year-old and won five medals.
The record is limited to male athletes in Commonwealth Games history, according to AP. The Commonwealth Games are a multi-sport event for athletes from nations and territories linked to the Commonwealth, and medals across editions count toward career totals.
Le Clos reacted emotionally after the relay bronze, telling the Games website: “I shouldn’t be crying at bronze, I should be crying at gold, but honestly this means the world.”
What events does le Clos still have left?
AP reported that le Clos may have more chances to add to his total at the Tollcross pool. He is also entered in the 50-metre and 100-metre butterfly events.
Butterfly has been the main stroke of his international career, according to AP. Beyond the Commonwealth Games, le Clos has won four Olympic medals, including one gold, and 16 world titles.
The current Games are le Clos’s fifth Commonwealth Games, AP reported. He also plans to compete at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, which would be his fifth Olympic Games.
The bronze did not add to his gold count, but it changed his place in Commonwealth Games history. With one relay finish, le Clos passed two long-standing shooting greats and set a new benchmark for male athletes at the Games.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.