Johannesburg - Double olympic medallist, Chad le Clos, may be tempted to take a shot at the 100m freestyle but will instead keep his focus on defending his 200m butterfly title at the Rio Games in August.
Le Clos has in recent years developed into a capable freestyle swimmer posting world-class times over the 100m and 200m distances, despite dedicating little time to the stroke.
While it may be enticing to challenge for a medal in the blue-riband event at the games, he will have to be at his best to defend his title in the 200m butterfly, while he could be considered the favourite in the 100m butterfly event.
The 100m freestyle semi-final is on the same day as the 200m butterfly final, and it would be difficult to do both as it would require a full effort in both events.
“I just wish the 100m freestyle came on a different day at the Olympics, I feel I could pose a threat to the guys there,” Le Clos said.
“Honestly I’d like to do both, the time that I am racing, you can’t disrespect Michael Phelps and swim that before, whoever did that is not very sharp.”
Le Clos produced the upset of the 2012 Olympic Games when he out-touched US swimming icon Phelps by the narrowest of margins in the 200m butterfly final to claim his maiden title.
Three days later Phelps turned the tables and came out victorious in the 100m butterfly, edging out the South African.
The 23-year-old Le Clos will be looking to defend his title while he almost views the 100m butterfly as unfinished business.
Le Clos could be considered slight favourite in the 100m butterfly as he will go into the games as the reigning world champion in this event.
“Both have the same importance – in the 100m fly I am feeling confident, it will be closer because it is harder to win that, but I feel my speed is coming on nicely,” Le Clos said.
“I can’t speak for Phelps or Laszlo (Cseh), maybe they break the world record, maybe I get bronze, but I know I will be faster, and ready to go.”
The Durbanite relinquished his 200m butterfly title at last year’s Fina World Championships in Russia when Cseh of Hungary beat him to the wall.
Le Clos has shown early form qualifying in four events – the 100m and 200m butterfly, and 100m and 200m freestyle – since January although he needs to do it again at the SA swimming championships and olympic trials in Durban next month.
“The 200m fly is a different story, I lost last year and Phelps is swimming really fast, so with the 200m fly I have to try to defend my title,” he said.
“I will put myself out there and I will make sure that if I lose I go down fighting, no doubt about that.”
Le Clos unleashed a new personal best time of 48.16 seconds in the 100m freestyle at the French leg of the 2015 Fina swimming world cup last year.
While the dream of competing for an olympic medal in the 100m freestyle may be fading, Le Clos believes he can challenge for the world title next year.
“I will swim the 100m freestyle next year and maybe leave the 200m fly, so I really want to win the 100m freestyle at world champs next year, I believe I can,” Le Clos said.
“I really feel with the training I’ve done, I don’t train for the 100m freestyle, I feel like I can improve, my stroke is not the greatest, I feel the power I have now is so much better even in my 100m fly.”
Independent on Saturday