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Le Clos Inflicts Further Wounds On US

Dec 13, 2012  - Craig Lord

Istanbul, World Short-Course Championships, Day 2 finals: 

Men's 100m butterfly

Chad le Clos (RSA), the Olympic champion who stepped up to the ranks of the best five in short-course this season past, took down Ian Crocker's 49.07 world textile best from 2004 with a debut sub-49sec effort of 48.82 for gold. Inflicting further pain on the US 'fly ranks, the Phelps slayer of London 2012, out 0.05sec inside world record pace on 22.83 at the 50m mark, put further distance between himself and Thomas Shields and Ryan Lochte on the way home. The minor spoils went in 49.54 and 49.59 to Shields and Lochte respectively as the last two inside 50sec.

The world record stands at 48.48 (22.88) yet to Evgeny Korotyshkin (RUS) from a time of shiny suits, while Crocker (USA) slips to second-swiftest ever in textile after eight years, the American having clocked 49.07 on 26 March 2004 on his way to Olympic silver behind teammate Michael Phelps in Athens.

Shields and Lochte are now third and fourth fastest ever in textile, while Le Clos steps up from a best of 49.60, the time that placed him second-best ever on post-Olympic world cup tour this year.

The result: 

  • Chad Le Clos (RSA)   22.83 48.82 CR (25.99)
  • Thomas Shields (USA) 22.97 49.54 (26.57)
  • Ryan Lochte (USA0    23.07 49.59 (26.52)

Dubai 2010:

  • Evgeny Korotyshkin (RUS) 50.23
  • Albert Subirats (VEN) 50.24 
  • Kaio Almeida (BRA) 50.33

History in the making:

World s/c Podiums

  • 2012: 48.82; 49.54; 49.59
  • 2010: 50.23; 50.24; 50.33
  • 2008: 50.04; 50.54; 50.78

2006: 51.07; 51.23; 51.53

Most world titles in this event: 3

Lars Frolander (SWE) 1997, 99, 2000

World Records 

  • WR: 48.48 Evgeny Korotyshkin (RUS) 15.11.09
  • TB: 49.07 Ian Crocker (USA) 26.03.04

All-time textile rankings top 5:

  • 48.82 Le Clos
  • 49.07 Crocker
  • 49.54 Shields
  • 49.59 Lochte
  • 49.62 Czerniak