Olympic golden boy le Clos does it again

SA swimming sensation, Chad le Clos at the London Games 2012.(REUTERS)

Tags:

• Race
• Olympics 2012
• Swim
• Chad le Clos
• Qualify
• FINA World Short Course Championships
• Turkey
• Medal
• Darien Townsend
• FINA Championships
• Karen Prinsloo

In his first race after the London Games, South Africa’s swimming sensation Chad le Clos has qualified for the FINA World Short Course Championships in Turkey in December this year. He was competing at the South African National Short Course Swimming Championships in Pietermaritzburg.

It was the first day of the championships and already performances provided huge excitement in the 25m long pool. A few members of the Olympic swimming team were in action.  In a close 200m freestyle final, le Clos and another Olympic medalist Darien Townsend fought it out for first place.  Le Clos won with a time of 1:45:08. Townsend finished close behind in 1:45:38 - also qualifying for the FINA championships.

It was a tough test, the strain of the recent Olympics started to show.

It was tough, I didn't expect to win

Le Clos said: “It was tough, I didn't expect to win and coming close after Olympics but, I am satisfied."

Le Clos was followed by fans - young and old.

On the women’s side, Karen Prinsloo hopes her qualifying time in the heat of the 100m backstroke was good enough. She said a few members of the Olympic team were ill.

Olympic gold medalist Cameron van der Burgh is expected to be in action in the 100m breaststroke today.