SA’s Olympic golden boy withdraws from 200m medley

South African swimming gold medalist Chad le Clos has withdrawn from the final of the 200-metres individual medley. His father Bert says he would rather focus on the 100-metres butterfly. It is believed that the decision will improve Le Clos’ chances of getting another medal if he withdraws from the event. Le Clos sneaked into the final of the men’s 200-metres individual medley at the Olympic Games yesterday evening. He finished fifth in his semi-final heat, claiming an overall joint seventh spot with a time of one-minute-58.49 seconds. Le Clos won the gold medal in the 200-metres butterfly on Tuesday. The family of the swimming sensation is still overwhelmed with emotion and can’t grasp that their own son and brother clinched a gold medal at the Olympics. Le Clos’ sister Bianca Matos could not contain her excitement when her younger brother beat American Michael Phelps to claim the second gold medal for the South African Olympics team. Matos said their parents called after he won, crying in disbelief.

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