Le Clos ready to defend titles in Rio

01 February 2016 - 02:17 By David Isaacson

Chad le Clos's coach, Graham Hill, says his protege will compete in more than two events at the Rio Olympics, but apart from the butterfly, he doesn't want to reveal his hand yet. "I know what Chad is swimming at the Olympics. It will be more than two individual events," Hill said, adding his programme would become public once the Olympic entries were submitted midyear.Le Clos will compete in the two races he got medals in at London 2012 - the 200m fly, a gold medal win, and the 100m fly, in which he shared silver.He also finished fifth in the 400m individual medley . He also made the final of the 200m individual medley . But Le Clos has not competed in the 400m individual medley at top level since then, and he is outside the world top 20 in the 200m event.The 200m freestyle seems like an option for him, having finished sixth at last year's world championships, which puts him in the running if one considers that he was fifth in the 200m butterfly in London.Another option is the blue riband 100m freestyle, where Le Clos went 48.16sec last year.But mitigating against that is the tight schedule for August 9 - the 100m freestyle semifinals will be held just minutes before the 200m fly final, where Le Clos is the defending champion and arguably the underdog to world record-holder Michael Phelps.Le Clos and breaststroker Cameron van der Burgh, also a champion in 2012, have a shot of changing 104 years of Olympic history as they bid to become the first South Africans to retain their gold medals."We're in a very good space and we're working nicely. It's a big year for us," said Hill.He said the South African team would base themselves in Europe from May before heading to the US and then Brazil...

There’s never been a more important time to support independent media.

From World War 1 to present-day cosmopolitan South Africa and beyond, the Sunday Times has been a pillar in covering the stories that matter to you.

For just R80 you can become a premium member (digital access) and support a publication that has played an important political and social role in South Africa for over a century of Sundays. You can cancel anytime.

Already subscribed? Sign in below.



Questions or problems? Email helpdesk@timeslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00.