CWG 2026: South Africa's Chad Le Clos becomes most decorated male athlete in competition history
Glasgow, July 25
South African swimmer Chad Le Clos made history during the ongoing Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow, becoming the most decorated male athlete in the competition's history with another medal during the men's 4x100 m freestyle relay event.
On Friday, Le Clos captured his 19th individual medal in Commonwealth Games, which also includes seven golds, with the team of Pieter Coetze, Guy Brooks, Ruard van Renen and Chad clocking 3:13.99 in the men's freestyle 4x100 m freestyle relay event.
The official handle of Team SA posted on X, "Team South Africa has claimed bronze in the Men's 4x100m Freestyle Relay, with Pieter Coetze, Guy Brooks, Ruard van Renen and Chad le Clos stopping the clock in 3:13.99. The medal also marks a historic milestone for Chad le Clos, who has now won 19 Commonwealth Games medals, making him the most decorated male athlete in Commonwealth Games history. History made. Congratulations, Team SA!"
Speaking after the medal win as quoted by the CWG 2026 official website, Le Clos said, "I should not be crying at bronze, I should be crying at gold, but honestly this means the world."
"After the near misses and some really hard times over the past few years, this is unbelievable, and I am just so grateful to my family for all their support," he added.
Australia walked away with the gold medal in men's 4x100 m freestyle relay, leading the medal tally with six golds, two silvers and five bronze, with a total of 13. South Africa has won three medals, including a gold and two bronze medals.
— ANI
Reader Comments
It's inspiring to see an athlete bounce back from tough times. His emotional reaction after winning bronze shows how much this means to him. India could learn a lot from South Africa's swimming infrastructure. We have the talent but not the system to nurture it.
Respect for Le Clos! But honestly, Australia is dominating again. Six golds already! We need to ask ourselves why India is struggling to even get close. It's not just about funds, it's about a sports culture. Our athletes need better training and exposure from a young age.
Chad Le Clos is a true champion. Bronze in relay is still a medal! His tears of joy are so heartwarming. Meanwhile, I'm waiting to see if our Indian swimmers can even qualify for finals. Sigh. When will we start taking water sports seriously in India? 🤔
Great achievement, but I wish our media would cover such events more. We only talk about cricket! There are so many athletes in India who could use this inspiration. Le Clos is a role model not just for South Africans but for all young swimmers across the Commonwealth. 🏊♂️
As an expat living in India, I find it fascinating how sports like swimming get so little attention here. Le Clos's dedication is unmatched. His quote about crying at bronze shows real passion. Respect from Canada! 🇨🇦
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