Following Illness, Multi-Time Titlist Chad Le Clos Opting Out of World Championships
According to German media, including the Frankfurter Rundschau, South African star Chad Le Clos will skip this month’s World Championships in Fukuoka. Reports indicate that Le Clos, the 2012 Olympic champion in the 200-meter butterfly, was sidelined by illness earlier this year and is not in good enough shape to perform well at the World Champs.
Training in Germany, Le Clos figured to be a medal contender in the 100 butterfly and 200 fly in Japan, until recent performances suggested otherwise. Over the weekend, Le Clos was only 52-low in the 100 butterfly and narrowly broke 1:58 in the 200 fly. Michael Ulmer, the Sports Director of Le Clos’ club, SG Frankfurt, commented on the Olympic champ’s status.
“He’s not that fit after his five-week training break due to illness,” Ulmer said. “His focus is clearly on the Olympic Games.”
A four-time Olympic medalist and seven-time medalist at the World Championships, Le Clos has been a fixture on international podiums for the past decade. At the World Champs, he twice has claimed titles in the 100 fly and 200 fly.
With the World Championships off his schedule, Le Clos will shift his focus to preparing for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. Le Clos emerged on the global scene when he rallied to edge Michael Phelps in the final of the 200 fly at the London Games.