Le Clos would 'love' Commonwealth Games medal record

South African swimmer Chad le Clos says he "would love" to stand alone as the most decorated male athlete in the history of the Commonwealth Games.

The 34-year-old's current haul of 18 medals - comprising seven golds, four silvers and seven bronzes - puts him level in the all-time list with shooters Phil Adams of Australia and Mick Gault of England.

Durban-born Le Clos, who made his Commonwealth Games debut in Delhi in 2010, is set to be on the blocks for the men's 50m and 100m butterfly events in Glasgow.

"It's been a weird monkey on my back the last eight years," he told Sportsworld on the BBC World Service.

"I should have got that title back in 2018. I should have got over the line with an extra medal or two."

Le Clos picked up one silver medal, in the 200m butterfly, at the 2022 Games in Birmingham to tie the record but revealed afterwards that his preparations had been affected by mental health issues.

"Birmingham was a guarantee for me, in some respects, with the way I was looking. But life happened and we got fourth [two] times, and unfortunately we didn't make that final relay," he said.

"I still feel like there's a lot of fight left in me and I still believe I have a part to play in world swimming.

"I'd love to get that title. That would be amazing."

Le Clos won two golds among a five-medal haul when he made his Commonwealth debut in 2010 aged 18, but says he "never would have dreamed" that he would be preparing for a fifth appearance at the Games.

"It's absolutely unbelievable," he added.

"I was still in high school [for Delhi], finishing my final year. I was busy writing exams at the time, but it was a perfect stepping stone, and I seemed to be getting better and better each competition."

Le Clos was eliminated in the heats of the 100m butterfly at the Paris 2024 Olympics and then suffered with "a bunch of injuries".

He says he would not be competing in Glasgow if it was not for the advice of his father Bert to take a break from swimming last year.

"I was going to jump straight back into training in the April," he explained.

"My dad was like: 'You're taking 12 weeks off. You're not going to do anything. No gym, no swimming, no nothing. Just enjoy yourself'.

"I've never had that break in my life. It was a physical reset. It was just nice to get the body healed.

"I'm just grateful to still be swimming."

One thing Le Clos has also had to adapt to is being the elder statesman in the pool.

"I look at the guys that I'm racing and they are all 19, 20, 21, 22. The oldest is 24.

"I'm 10 years the oldest guy, a senior, in my events.

"It's crazy to think that in 2010, these guys were four years old, three years old. It's unbelievable."

With one Olympic gold - the 200m butterfly from London 2012 - three Olympic silvers and 16 world titles also to his name, Le Clos does not believe the Commonwealth Games will define his legacy.

"What I've done in the pool I think speaks for itself," he said.

"So even if I don't get any medals next week, it is what it is. I'm just going there to do the best that I can.

"[I'm] definitely in the best shape that I could be."

Part of the reason Le Clos holds that view is the fact he has opened a swimming academy back in South Africa.

There are 13 clubs and over 3,000 members enrolled in the programme, with hopes to expand to 50 clubs in the next two years.

"I'm swimming for a little bit more than just myself, my family and South Africa - I'm swimming for the next generation that I'm mentoring now," he said.

"We've got some unbelievable kids coming to the system. I believe in two, three years' time we'll have the biggest club by far in Africa and maybe in the world."

Le Clos says the academy has given him a new perspective and put him in a "different space" in his career.

As a result, he has no immediate plans to retire and has set himself the target of going to a fifth Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028.

"I think this academy has saved my life. That's a bit of a strong way to say it," he said.

"I really don't need to be here anymore. I really want to be here. I'm hungrier than ever to be here.

"I am doing it for myself, just to prove to myself that I can still do it."

The thrill of competition still burns bright in Le Clos.

"I love being under those lights.

"It's something I can't explain. It's a drug that's bit me from an early age, and I'm still not able to shake it.

"As long as I'm still in the mix fighting for medals in the final, there's no reason for me to retire."