Le Clos arrived in South Korea for the 2019 FINA World Championships feeling “very excited” about the competition ahead and ready to race despite a niggling groin injury.
Chad earned South Africa’s first medal of the meet in Gwangju, touching for bronze in the 200m fly final with a time of 1:54.15. Following this, he obtained another butterfly medal in the 100m, touching the wall again in third in a time of 51.16. At the end of the Championships, he was honoured to be named “Swimmer of the Championship”.
With the 2020 Olympic Games on the horizon, these results not only enhanced Chad’s focus on getting back to optimal performance levels but also gave him high hopes to show his true potential on the next world stage once his full rehabilitation programme has been completed.
