JOHANNESBURG - Chad le Clos will be looking to get his Fina Swimming World Cup campaign back on track in Eindhoven, Netherlands, from today to Sunday.
The first two stops of the series, which were held in 50-metre pools, did not quite aid Le Clos in the pursuit of his fifth overall title. He bagged three medals in the opening gala with victory in the 200m butterfly and silvers in the 100 'fly and 200 freestyle in Kazan, Russia.
A stomach bug forced him to withdraw from the first day of swimming at the Doha leg and he suffered from the effects in the remaining two. Le Clos could not add any more medals to his tally in the first cluster of the series and will have an opportunity to make up points starting in Eindhoven.
The remaining meetings in the series will be held in 25-metre pools and will form part of the build-up to the World Short-Course Championships in Hangzhou, China, from December 11-16. Le Clos can expect a busy weekend with the London 2012 Olympic champion set to compete in the 50, 100 and 200m butterfly and the 100m freestyle events.
Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Ryan Coetzee, who has enjoyed a breakthrough year, has been in top form over the first two legs of the series. In Kazan, he narrowly missed out on podium places but clocked personal bests.
Coetzee took on the mantle of South Africa’s top swimmer at the Doha leg, winning silver in the 100 butterfly and bronze in the 50 'fly. He will be competing in the 50 and 100m freestyle, and 50 and 100m butterfly events in Eindhoven.
Commonwealth Games 50m freestyle silver medallist Brad Tandy will make his first appearance in the series this season. The 2016 Rio Olympics 50m freestyle finalist has been entered for the 50m freestyle, 50m breaststroke and 50m 'fly in Eindhoven. Douglas Erasmus, who competed in the 50m freestyle at the Rio Games, will be the third SA Olympian in action in the Netherlands over the weekend.
A pleasure to catch up with South Africa's most decorated #Olympian& @youtholympics Ambassador @chadleclos🙌
The London 2012 Olympic Champion 🥇 will be inspiring young athletes at #BuenosAires2018 which gets underway next week.
We can't wait! #YOG #9DaysToGo🎉 pic.twitter.com/2lSq4CqnHx
— World Olympians (@worldolympians) September 27, 2018