Chad le Clos has taken a lighter schedule at the first stop of this Doha World Cup than we usually see from him, and so far that has paid off big for his sprinting.
On Thursday, he swam just a single final, the men’s 100 fly, and that paid off with a new South African National Record and a new global textile-best time of 48.70.
Fewer-and-fewer events are left with “textile bests” that are relevant, but many of these sprint events in short course meters had records that were just decimated in the 2008 and 2009 World Cup series. With the benefits gained from the polyurethane suits underwater, and with so many more underwaters in short course meters, many of these records are still distant. This event is one of them, where Russia’s Evgeny Korotyshkin was a 48.48 in Berlin in 2009.
Le Clos’ swim was faster than his old South African Record of 48.82 done at 2012 World Championships, and betters Tom Shields’ 48.80 from this Doha World Cup in 2013 as the best ever swim in textile.
Le Clos’ sprint times have been getting better-and-better over the last 18 months, and this should all lead up to his expected showdown with American Michael Phelps in the 100 fly at the 2015 World Championships and the 2016 Olympic Games.
Kazan and rio aren’t SCM they are LCM where phelps is still king in the 100 fly!
Chad is the King of SCM and LCM. Reigning world champion of both. Phelps isn’t even the champion of the USA……..that’s why he is not the King. Pretty simple stuff we are dealing with here.
With all due respect to Phelps, he is not the King in 100 fly. He will if he wins in Kazan. But right now, it is Le Clos who is ruling the 100 fly. Le Clos is the current 100 fly world champion and has never been defeated in the event both in SCM and LCM since last year.
I bet Shields wins short course worlds this year, and hopefully he can get a medal in Rio
And yes I do believe Phelps will be the one to challenge Le Clos. Not Lochte or Shields. We have atleast 2 more years until Rio & about a year until World Championships. Everybody get your popcorn out. We are in for a ride.
Michael Phelps & Tom Shields should be very afraid. Although I’m more confident Phelps is more likely to challenge Le Clos than any other in this race come worlds & Rio. I have smack talked Phelps for awhile & was expecting him to have a bad PanPacs(he didn’t). I’m known as a hater around here but I do think it will be epic when Phelps & Le Clos finally meet. I bet you anything Phelps is paying attention right now. I’m not a Phelps butt licker but the man is VERY competitive.
In my very limited knowledge, that man is arguably the most competitive person on earth,
@ASWIMFAN I have read your comments on this site before & you seem to be very good at predicting things a lot of times. What do you think of Phelps chances in the 100fly come 2015 worlds & 2016 Olympics? I’m really looking forward to the Phelps vs. Le Clos vs. Shields vs. Lochte showdown. And the 200 IM. What do you think about that?
Phelps will have much bigger chance in 100 fly if he trains only for 100 fly and free, and swim in 100 fly/free and 3 relays in Rio.
His 200 IM chance will be diminished in my opinion.
However, I predict he will still swim the 200 IM because it means his option for fourpeat is doubled.
Remember, no swimmer has ever fourpeat before, and I think Phelps would like to be the first and only swimmer to achieve that.
I agree with you about the 100 fly. I really believe if he was to just focus on that his chances of fourpeating are greater. Maybe he will realize it later on down the line and drop the 200IM though I don’t see that happening because like we said he is very competitive & believes he can achieve something that has not been done by any swimmer ever. He still has time imo. I think his “comeback” was very well calculated. He knew what time to get back in the game. Not too early but not too late either. He will have to up his training even more. 2015 & 2016 i’m looking forward to it.
In one year , i bet Phelps will love to win the 100 fly anyway , whatever it takes
Le Clos didn’t swim many great meets prior to this one this summer , so it’s in his favor . Shields on the other hand has had 2 Big meets before …. hats off to Shields too to keep up and improve . Anyway , technically , i prefer Shields technique .
He’s on fire, and the SCM season has only just started. There is a distinct lack of “4peat” banter on this site.
Hope your kang won’t burn out before the LC season begins.
SCM no big deal, not interested
Shields now knows how it is to swim against the best.
Correct. Shields is the man for the USA. Let’s hope that he peaks in Rio, and it will be game on!