2026 COMMONWEALTH GAMES
- July 24th – July 29th 2026 (pool swimming)
- Tollcross International Swimming Centre, Glasgow, Scotland
- LCM (50m)
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- Prelims Recaps: Day 1
- Finals Recaps: Day 1
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Day one of the 2026 Commonwealth Games unfolded yesterday from the storied Tollcross International Swimming Centre, with multiple Games and national records biting the dust to get the party started.
Among the medalists was 34-year-old veteran Chad le Clos, with the South African joining teammates Pieter Coetze, Guy Brooks, and Ruard van Renen in capturing bronze behind winner Australia and runner-up England in the men’s 4x100m freestyle relay.
Although they didn’t snag the top spot, the relay made history for Olympic champion le Clos, as he now becomes the most decorated male Commonwealth Games athlete in history.
We reported prior to the competition that le Clos was on the brink of establishing this record, entering the meet with a remarkable 18 Commonwealth Games medals since 2010. That shared the same total for a male with shooters Phillip Adams of Australia and Mick Gault of England.
However, with his bronze, le Clos now stands alone with 19 Games medals, with the competition only just getting started.
You can see how emotional a milestone this is for le Clos in the video shown beneath the day one medal table below.
Le Clos🥳🥳 love to see him thriving especially after the world cruelly mocked him in 2016
Chad Le Clown mocked himself and continues doing so
How does he continue doing so?
by being delusional about himself and his current abilities. And no, he is not “enjoying it having fun”, he really believes he can still be at the highest level possible and creates pressure on himself judging from his interviews. And refusing to let it go.
I always thought le Clos would have been better served at the 2016 Olympics had he not swum the 200 free. On day two he had both heats and semis of the 200 free, and took out both swims in a foot touch 23+ at the 50, an extravagant use of energy. On day three he had both the heats and semis of the 200 fly, and the final of the 200 free, in which he got the silver medal to Sun Yang. Then, on day four, he had the finals of the 200 fly, which Phelps won in 1:53.36, and in which le Clos finished fourth with a 1:54.06. It was his sixth 200 in three days, and he… Read more »
Maybe but he was only 24 so should have been able to handle it. Perhaps he could have simply not gone out in 23 on the 1st 50 in heats and semis.
Le Clos is only 1 medal behind the all-time Commonwealth Games medal leader Emma McKeon who has a record 20 medals.
McKeon also holds the record for CG gold medals (14). That record looks safe for now.
I always like Le Clos. He wears his heart on his sleeve.
Fantastic achievements by le Clos especially since SAF lacks depth to afford him consistent relay medals.