JOHANNESBURG – When Chad le Clos dives into the Alfréd Hajós National Swimming Stadium in Budapest he will be looking for his slice of redemption after losing his prized 200m butterfly crowns at the 2015 World Championships and Rio Olympic Games.
Le Clos will lead South Africa’s charge at the Budapest World Championships with fellow Olympic gold medallist Cameron van den Burgh hoping for more success at his sixth edition of the global showpiece.
South Africa will have a keen eye on the next generation of swimmers that could either complement or replace these stalwarts once they call time on their careers.
Competition pool looking amazing! @fina1908 #WorldChampionships pic.twitter.com/XoNqhoUeoX
— Cameron vd Burgh (@Cameronvdburgh) July 22, 2017
The duo has been the bedrock of the country’s swimming over the last 10 or so years.
Van der Burgh has won a total of nine medals, earning his first podium finish at the 2007 Melbourne World Championships. His class and status make him one of the country’s greatest sportsmen ever.
The 25-year-old Le Clos, pictured, in turn has won four medals, claiming the double butterfly gold at Barcelona 2013 and silver and gold in Kazan, Russia two years ago.
Le Clos will be looking to reclaim the 200m butterfly title he ceded to Hungarian Laszlo Cseh in 2015.
That defeat signalled 16 months of losses for Le Clos, who was supposed to be the crown prince of butterfly swimming.
It's time #budapest2017 #teamsouthafrica@ Kálvin tér (Budapest Metro) https://t.co/UfveVjbZYk
— Chad Le Clos (@chadleclos) July 22, 2017
Winning back the 200m butterfly title will be no easy feat as he faces a dangerous Hungarian duo in their own backyard.
Cseh will be hell-bent on defending his title while Rio Olympics bronze medallist Tamas Kenderesi will be hoping to continue his rise in the event.
Le Clos has made a few key changes in his life which includes a change in coaching with Italian Andreas di Nino taking over from long-time mentor Graham Hill seven months ago.
“That is the race I want to win without a doubt if I win the world champs (200m ‘fly) next week Wednesday it will be huge, it will be redemption for me,” the Discovery Vitality Ambassador told Independent Newspapers.
“I’m obviously the big underdog going into the lion’s den so as far as I am concerned I’m number four going into the world champs but I will give it my all and I do see myself having a very successful championship.
“It is simple for me. I want to win gold but I am going to put in my best performance and if that gets me second, third or fourth I can honestly say I am proud of myself.”
Le Clos is looking to reach another significant milestone in the 100m butterfly as he is going after his third consecutive title at the championships.
Should Le Clos top the podium in the shorter event he will become only the second man after American icon Michael Phelps to win it three years in a row.
The South African will have to be at his best going up against reigning Olympic champion Joseph Schooling of Singapore.
“I think it is going to be difficult obviously with Joseph Schooling also on great form and obviously last year was huge for him,” Le Clos said.
It promises to be an equally tough championships for Van der Burgh, who had to be content with silver in both the 50m and 100m at the previous event.
British world record-holder Adam Peaty is the reigning world and Olympic champion and has seemed unstoppable since they first crossed swords in earnest at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
South Africa’s only other finalist from the Rio Olympics, freestyle sprinter Brad Tandy will be looking for a repeat of last year’s multi-sport event.
Rising freestyle star Zane Waddell is one of the exciting prospects qualifying in the 50m freestyle while posting the eighth best time by a South African in the 100m event at the national championships in a time of 49.09.
The championships will see the return of Le Clos, Van der Burgh, Myles Brown, and Ayrton Sweeney while Swimming SA has also included five female swimmers.
It is the first time since the 2013 World Championships that SA will have female representation with Emma Chellius, Erin Gallagher, Samantha Randle, Kate Beavon, and Kaylene Corbett making the team.
SA swimming team
Men:
Myles Brown, Chad le Clos, Brent Szurdoki, Brad Tandy, Cameron van der Burgh, Zane Waddell, Martin Binedell, Doug Erasmus, Clayton Jimmie, Matthew Meyer, Ayrton Sweeney.
Women:
Emma Chellius, Erin Gallagher, Samantha Randle, Kate Beavon, Kaylene Corbett.