South Africa’s golden boy Chad le Clos says it sucks that he finished fifth in yesterday morning’s 200m butterfly final, but vows to give his all in the 100m event.
The 29-year-old put up a fight against Kristof Milak in the first couple of laps, before the Hungarian sped off to victory in a new Olympic record of 1:51.25.
Le Clos, who made his name by beating legendary Olympian Michael Phelps to gold in the same event at London 2012, touched the wall in a time of 1:54.95.
But the Durbanite will go all out for redemption when he competes in the 100m ’fly heats at 12.56pm today.
Hungry for a fifth Olympic medal, he says: “It sucks [to have finished fifth], because my mind and my soul deserved better than what I put out there.
“I know I am mentally stronger than all these guys. Sometimes it doesn’t come together, you know – it is what it is.
“I felt great, looking at everyone and feeling excited, like I usually do.
“I wasn’t off. It’s just, the body didn’t work. The body didn’t come back [in the last 50 metres], unfortunately. It is what it is.”
Le Clos will be joined in the same event by Matthew Sates, as SA’s rising golf star Garrick Higgo made his debut alongside Christiaan Bezuidenhout in Round 1 of the Men’s Individual Stroke Play competition at the Kasumigaseki Country Club earlier this morning.
TEAM SA IN TOKYO TODAY
(Events after 6am)
Sailing
Leo Davis – Men’s Finn (7.35am)
Swimming
Matthew Sates – Men’s 100m butterfly heat 5 (12.54am)
Chad le Clos – Men’s 100m butterfly heat 6 (12.56am