Le Clos out to win yet again in Doha
CHAD le Clos, crowned Fina’s male swimmer of the year soon after he arrived in Doha, will today begin his quest to win a few more titles at the world short course championships.
The South African is aiming for gold in all three butterfly races, being ranked No 1 in the world in each.
Le Clos, set to compete this morning in the 100m fly heats, is the first non-American recipient of the award, which the international federation started only in 2010 and which has been won three times by Ryan Lochte and once by Michael Phelps.
Also in action today is fellow Olympic champion Cameron van der Burgh, competing in his first serious gala since undergoing shoulder surgery after the Commonwealth Games.
He is up first in the 100m breaststroke, but is scheduled to add the 200m to his repertoire later in the week.
Van der Burgh should make the podium in the 50m and 100m events, but some observers be- lieve the 200m might be out of his range, at least for now.
While both Le Clos and Van der Burgh are likely to win medals tomorrow – in the 100m they must go through evening semifinals – South Africa could have a podium chance today in the men’s 4x100m freestyle relay.
Head coach Graham Hill has been confident of the freestyle relay hopes in this gala.
The South African squad features medallists from the Commonwealth Games – Sebastien Rousseau, Myles Brown, Clayton Jimmie and Calvyn Justus – as well as Giulio Zorzi, the 50m breaststroke bronze medallist at last year’s world long-course championships behind Van der Burgh.
Short-course competition is staged in a 25m pool, while long course is over traditional Olympic-sized 50m laps.
South African squad: