Gary Lemke

room before the 200m butterfly semi-final. The look of disgust on Phelps’ face went viral on social media.

A day later, the final was swum. Phelps reclaimed his 200m Olympic butterfly title and Le Clos finished fourth. He responded by ignoring the media in the mixed zone, towel draped over his head, while Phelps basked in the glory.

The following day, Le Clos met with the media and apologised for his behaviour. “I let myself down, I let the country down,” he told us. “I can’t explain it. I arrived here (in Rio) in the best shape of my life… I can honestly say that. I wasn’t aware of upsetting Michael in the ready room, I haven’t been on my phone for days and don’t know what the fuss is about. But, I can name five worse things that have happened to me in the past year than not getting a medal in the 200m butterfly.”

Le Clos didn’t expand on the statement, but it’s public knowledge that both his parents were battling cancer, and when the 24-year-old broke the world record in the 100m butterfly in Montreal’s shortcourse championships, he dedicated it to his mom. And that victory makes us wonder about Rio.

Sure, Le Clos won two silver medals at the 2016 Games, one a unique three-way deadheat for silver in the 100m butterfly behind Joseph Schooling. That took his individual tally to four Olympic medals – one gold and three silvers – and makes him the most decorated swimmer in African Olympic history.

And, he will be 28 by the time Tokyo comes round and, given that he’s decided to embark on a new career direction and move to Cape Town from January, parting ways with Hill in doing so, he should be able to add to that medal tally.

But, when he writes his second book, he will no doubt reflect on Rio and perhaps more will be revealed. It was the night he poked the bear and Phelps responded emphatically. It was also the night many overseas media felt that one had seen how the South African reacted in defeat, not victory.

To his credit, Le Clos has rebounded and his success at the World Short-Course Championships has to be applauded. Now we eagerly await the next chapter. It won’t be his last.