Chad Le Clos answered right back to Laszlo Cseh’s call in the 100m butterfly, beating him in the finals with a new South African and African record time of 50.56.
That time for Le Clos is a best time by half-a-second and significantly faster than anything he’s ever gone in his career. Heading into this meet, Le Clos’ national record and continental record was his 51.06 from the 2013 World Championships.
Not only is it a record, but it’s the second fastest textile swim in the 100m butterfly ever. The only swimmer to ever be faster than a 50.56 in a textile suit is Ian Crocker of the United States with his 50.40 world record from 2005.
This puts Le Clos ahead of his butterfly rival, Michael Phelps, in the overall textile rankings in the event. The fastest Phelps has ever been in a textile suit is a 50.65 from 2010.
During the race Le Clos approached the first 50 wall in second to Singaporean swimmer Joseph Schooling with 200m butterfly winner Cseh hot on his heels. At the touch he was a 23.72 as he turned for home, turning on the jets. With a 26.84 final 50 split, Le Clos rocketed to the wall in first. After losing his signature event, the 200m butterfly, to Cseh of Hungary earlier in the meet he was able to beat him tonight as Cseh finished second in 50.87.
With Le Clos’ win tonight, he’s also the repeat champion in the 100m butterfly and arguably one of the favorites heading into Rio. One man who might have something to say about that is defending Olympic champion Phelps who will swim the event at US Nationals later this week after putting up the fastest time in the world in the 200.
Michael Phelps just got the best time this year and beat Chad Le Clos.
*Good on him.
Goo on him. Amazing time.
what a pic :O
From the 50 fly lol, Santos only swims 50 fly I believe
Nobody has the pure speed that Schooling does. Another year of training with Eddie and his 2nd 50 will be stronger. Look out in Rio next summer.
Just what the Motivation Machine needed. Expect Phelps to be hyper focused tonight, we’re in for something magical.