South African swimmer Chad le Clos has cemented his place in Commonwealth Games history by becoming the most decorated athlete with a record 21 medals. The milestone was achieved during the Glasgow 2026 Games when he helped secure bronze in the men's 4x100m medley relay, swimming the butterfly leg.
At 34 years old, le Clos added this third medal of the current Games to his extensive collection, which now includes seven gold, five silver, and nine bronze medals amassed over five editions of the Games.
Career Highlights
- Debuted at the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games at age 18, winning five medals including two golds.
- Achieved a personal best of seven medals at the 2014 Glasgow Games.
- Added five medals at the 2018 Gold Coast Games and one at the 2022 Birmingham Games.
- Extended his record in Glasgow 2026 with three medals: silver in the mixed 4x100m medley relay, bronze in the men's 4x100m freestyle relay, and bronze in the men's 4x100m medley relay.
Legacy
Le Clos’ Commonwealth Games success laid the foundation for a distinguished international swimming career. Notably, he stunned the world by narrowly defeating Michael Phelps in the men’s 200m butterfly at the 2012 London Olympics, ending Phelps’ decade-long dominance in the event. He has also earned multiple Olympic medals and represented South Africa in subsequent Olympic Games, including Tokyo and Paris.
Reflecting on his latest achievement, le Clos expressed deep emotion and gratitude towards his teammates, who motivated each other by saying, “We’re doing this for Chad.”
