South African swimmer Chad le Clos made history on Friday by becoming the most decorated male athlete in Commonwealth Games history after helping his team win bronze in the men’s 4x100m freestyle relay. The medal was the 19th Commonwealth Games medal of his career, taking him ahead of Australian shooter Phil Adams and England’s Mick Gault.“I shouldn’t be crying at the bronze, I should be crying at the gold, but honestly it means the world,” the 34-year-old Le Clos said on the Games website. With this latest achievement, his Commonwealth medal tally now stands at seven gold, four silver and eight bronze.
A career full of milestones
Le Clos could also add to his record as he is also set to compete in the 50m and 100m butterfly events. He first appeared at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, where, at just 18, he won five medals. The current edition marks its fifth appearance at the Games.Beyond the Commonwealth stage, Le Clos has had a remarkable international career. He won four Olympic medals, including one gold, and claimed 16 world championship titles, mainly in the butterfly events. The veteran swimmer is also aiming to compete at a fifth Olympic Games when Los Angeles hosts the event in 2028.