Chad le Clos returns to competitive swimming at SA national championships

This week, South Africa’s swimming sensation Chad le Clos is poised to make a significant return to the national competition stage at the Bombela Concession Company SA National (25m) Championships, hosted at the GC Jolliffe Swimming Pool in Pietermaritzburg.

After an extended hiatus due to a back injury, the 33-year-old former Olympic champion is ready to showcase his prowess, especially with one eye on upcoming international meets.

Le Clos expressed his excitement ahead of this week’s events, declaring, “My back is feeling good… feeling great. I’m going to be heading to the World Cup afterwards, probably just swimming one leg; we’ll see how we go.”

The athlete, known for his tenacity and spirit, will be representing KwaZulu-Natal, aiming to prepare for a critical series of meets in Carmel, Indiana, and, ultimately, the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

At the championships, Le Clos will be competing in multiple events: the 100m freestyle, 50m and 100m butterfly, and intriguingly, the 50m backstroke.

“I’ll see how those go, and then at the World Cup I’ll just kind of see where I’m at with everything,” he added, hinting at a strategic approach to his comeback.

Joining Le Clos in Pietermaritzburg are rising stars in the swimming landscape. Newly crowned world junior champion Kris Mihaylov will compete in the 200m butterfly, and Jessica Thompson, who narrowly missed a medal by just two hundredths of a second in the 50m backstroke at a recent event in Romania, will bring her competitive spirit to the pool.

“It’s just so much more exciting because anyone can pull anything out of the bag,” the 18-year-old Thompson said, reflecting on the dynamic nature of short course championships.

She aims to secure personal bests while enjoying the competition, stating, “just enjoy swimming again, take the pressure off and just be there.”

This week’s championships also feature sprint breaststrokers Chris Smith and Lara van Niekerk.

Smith recently achieved his first long-course world championships final in Singapore, while Van Niekerk, a double Commonwealth Games gold medallist in 2022, is working hard to re-establish herself following a serious injury.

Their presence adds to the excitement of an event that showcases both seasoned champions and emerging talents.

The SA National (25m) Championships will unfold from September 25-28, with morning heats commencing at 8.30am and evening finals scheduled for 5pm.

As the excitement builds in Pietermaritzburg, the swimming community eagerly anticipates the thrilling performances that lie ahead, particularly from its formidable veteran, Chad le Clos.