Swimmer misses out on fourth gold after finishing sixth in 100m butterfly
South Africa’s Chad le Clos was delighted to claim his second gold in Saturday’s 100m butterfly final, but there was disappointment for birthday boy Ryan Lochte at swimming's world championships.
Ryan Lochte competes in 100m butterfly on Saturday. Pic/AFP
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The 21-year-old Le Clos, the Olympic and world 200m champion, clocked 51.06sec with Hungary’s Laszlo Cseh at 0.39 back and Poland's Konrad Czerniak 0.40 adrift in the 100m final.u00a0But Lochte, who has won three golds in Barcelona, finished sixth on his 29th birthday.
Having won the 200m final on Monday, the same night compatriot Cameron van der Burgh won the men’s 50m breaststroke final, Le Clos was delighted at his second world title.
“This morning I was really nervous and I was really excited before the race,” he said. “Now I am extremely happy because this medal is really special for me.”
Le Clos admitted he glanced across to check where he was during the race, a bad habit his coach has told him not to do.
“I know I shouldn't, but I wanted to make sure I was in the race,” he admitted. There was disappointment for Lochte, who failed to add to the 15 world titles he has won in his career, but has a chance of a 16th gold in Sunday's 4x100 medley relay final after the morning's heats.
“I felt really good in the water, but I couldn't get a medal,” said the USA star, whose haul is second only to Michael Phelps' total of 26 world titles.
“It's my first international 100m 'fly and I'm still learning how to swim it well. “My goal is now is just to get ready for the medley relay on Sunday, I'll celebrate my birthday after that.”
Fifth gold for Franklin
Meanwhile, Missy Franklin of the United States picked up her fifth gold at swimming’s world championships in Barcelona on Saturday as she dominated the women’s 200m backstroke, her strongest event.
The 18-year-old Olympic champion, who set the world record in winning gold in this event at London 2012, clocked 2min 04.76 in a new championship record.
Katie breaks record
Katie Ledecky of the USA broke the women’s 800m freestyle world record to win gold at swimming’s world championships on Saturday with Denmark’s Lotte Friis second and New Zealand’s Lauren Boyle third.u00a0
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