Le Clos eyes title and world record

The South African swimming sensation leads the series after the first two legs and could claim the overall title for a second time over the last six events.

Coach Graham Hill said the swimmer could advance his chances of claiming the title if he set another world record over the next two months.

“He wants the world cup and he is leading the series with six more events to go,” Hill said.

“But, if he wants to win it, he needs to break another world record.”

Le Clos set a new world record in the men’s 200m butterfly clocking one minute, 49:04 seconds (1:49.04) at the Eindhoven, Netherlands leg in August.

He would be joined by veteran Olympic medallist Roland Schoeman and rising star Myles Brown.

Schoeman, claimed three gold medals at the world cup gala in Berlin, Germany, earlier this year winning the 50m freestyle, 50m breaststroke and 50m butterfly.

Hill said Schoeman felt rejuvenated and was swimming faster than he has before.

Brown, 21, broke the Africa and South African records in the 400m and 1500m freestyle events in Eindhoven.

Le Clos announced his arrival on the international scene when he bagged 23 gold medals, and 35 medals in total, in the seven World Cup events in 2011.

His performances in that series also set the tone for his gold medal performance at the London Olympic Games the following year.

He recorded victories over Olympic swimming legend Michael Phelps, which confirmed the belief he was equally capable on the biggest international stage.

Hill said the swimmers would be using the world cup series as part of their preparations for next year’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

While Le Clos would continue in his specialist butterfly events, he would again pick up the medley events and dabble with the 100m and 200m freestyle.

At the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, Le Clos won the 200m butterfly and the 400m individual medley, and collected silver in the 4x100m medley and two bronze medals in the 4x100m freestyle and 4x200m freestyle.

Hill said his star swimmer would aim for medals in six individual events at next year’s Games.

– Sapa