I hope Phelps is in good shape, says Le Clos with a cheeky grin
KAZAN, Russia: South African Chad le Clos threw down the gauntlet to rival Michael Phelps with a cheeky grin after powering to the 100 metres butterfly gold at the world championships on Saturday.
Defending champion Le Clos dipped under 51 seconds for the first time in his career, clocking 50.56 seconds to atone for the disappointment of missing out on the 200m gold in the week.
Although he held off great friend Laszlo Cseh of Hungary by 0.31 seconds, it was a message of intent to multiple Olympic champion Phelps – currently competing at the U.S. Nationals in Texas – which lit up his news conference.
“I’m very excited for Rio next year and I hope he’s in good shape, because I’m in good shape and when Chad le Clos comes at you in the last 50m, you’d better be ready,” the South African said.
“It’s going to be another great battle in Rio and I’m looking forward to another
fight like it was in London 2012.”
Phelps currently holds the 100m butterfly world record of 49.82, though it was set in 2009 in a now-banned fast suit.
In Kazan, both 29-year-old Cseh and Le Clos, 23, closed the gap significantly on Phelps.
While Le Clos set an African record, Cseh’s time of 50.91 seconds in heats was the first time a swimmer had dipped below 51 seconds since Phelps winning time of 51.21 seconds at the London 2012 Olympics.
China’s Sun Yang was a shock late withdrawal from the final of the men’s 1,500 metres freestyle at the world championships on Sunday.
Sun, the reigning world and Olympic champion and world record holder, was the hot favourite for gold but did not show up at the starting blocks despite having warmed up for the race.
There was no immediate explanation from the Chinese team as to why Sun pulled out. Italy’s Gregorio Paltrinieri won the gold in his absence.
Swimming’s world ruling body FINA said Sun had pulled out with a chest complaint on medical advice.
Paltrinieri was shocked by Sun’s absence. “I never saw him today,” the Italian told reporters. “It was really disturbing to swim without him. It was a really tough race without him.”