example-image
Connect with Us:  

Le Clos A South African Pioneer

Oct 4, 2010  - Craig Lord

Commonwealth Games, Delhi, day 1 finals

Men 200m butterfly

Chad Le Clos, coached by Graham Hill, became the first South African to win gold in Delhi and the first from his country ever to win the Commonwealth 200m 'fly crown since the event came into being in 1958. Sixth at the last turn, the 18-year-old turned up the heat on the way home to catch and overhaul the lane 8 leader, England's Michael Rock. The winner's time, 1:56.48, set a Games record  0.16sec inside the time set by Moss Burmester (NZL) in 2006. The defending champion was out in the heats, in 10th.

Rock took silver in 1:57.15, with Stefan Hirniak (CAN) unable to produce the Canadian record of 1:57.06 he set in heats, his consolation a bronze in 1:57.26. At the last turn, Rock ahead on 1:26.03, the champion's teammate Sebastien Rousseau (RSA) looked to be on his way to a medal, on 1:26.73 but he faded on the way home. The only two men inside 30sec down the last length were Le Clos, on 29.43, and Chris Wright (AUS), on 29.64, a challenge too late, coming in 0.06sec shy of a medal.

The final went without 2010 world No2 Nick D'Arcy (AUS), who challenged Michael Phelps (USA) at Pan Pacs to take silver behind the Olympic and world champion but could not back up in Delhi and missed the cut in 9th place.

Reaction later.

History in the making:

Top 3 comparisons

  • 2010: 1:56.48; 1:57.15; 1:57.26
  • 2006: 1:56.64; 1:57.26; 1:59.18
  • 2002: 1:56.95; 1:57.71; 1:58.55

Gold-medal leader board: AUS 5/14 (since 1958)

Records:

  • Shiny suit:   1:51.51 Michael Phelps (USA) 2009
  • Textile suit: 1:52.07 Michael Phelps (USA) 2007
  • Commonwealth Games: 1:56.48 Chad Le Clos (RSA) 2010

Rankings

Impact on 2010 world rankings: none, the top 10 remaining as below...

  • 1:54.11    Phelps, Michael           1985    USA
  • 1:54.61    D'Arcy, Nick              1988    AUS
  • 1:54.81    Matsuda, Takeshi        1984    JPN
  • 1:55.00    Korzeniowski, Pawel   1985    POL
  • 1:55.36    Wu, Peng                     1987    CHN
  • 1:55.44    Chen, Yin                    1986    CHN
  • 1:55.66    Almeida, Kaio             1984    BRA
  • 1:55.72    Clary, Tyler                 1989    USA
  • 1:55.82    Biczo, Bence              1993    HUN
  • 1:56.04    Sakata, Ryusuke         1985    JPN

Impact on all-time world top 10: none

From The Archive:

From the land at the edge of the world comes a slice of swimming lore and tradition. New Zealanders have long had a love affair with the 200m butterfly and will doubtless be mourning the miss in heats by defending champion Moss Burmester, winner in 2006 but no longer a defending champion. Four Kiwis have made the 200m 'fly a national tradition: David Gerrard, Anthony Mosse, Danyon Loader and Burmester. Dr Gerrard, Commonwealth champion in 1966 is still at the heart of the swim community as an anti-doping light; Mosse, who went on to be an expert commentator on the sport, remains the only swimmer to have won the Commonwealth crown twice, in 1986 and 1990; Loader, 1994 Commonwealth champ, 1992 Olympic silver medallist in the 200m 'fly and 1996 200m and 400m freestyle champion, is a giant of Kiwi sport and here in Delhi as team mentor to New Zealand.