Chad le Clos, the renowned South African swimmer, expressed his desire to secure his place as the most decorated male athlete in Commonwealth Games history. Currently holding 18 medals—including seven golds, four silvers, and seven bronzes—he shares this record with shooters Phil Adams and Mick Gault.

Le Clos, who debuted in the Commonwealth Games in 2010 in Delhi, is set to compete in the men's 50m and 100m butterfly events in Glasgow. Reflecting on his journey, he stated, "It's been a weird monkey on my back the last eight years." He felt he should have claimed the title back in 2018, hoping to add more medals to his tally.

At the 2022 Games in Birmingham, he secured a silver in the 200m butterfly, tying the record. However, he faced challenges due to mental health issues, which he mentioned affected his preparations.

Le Clos reminisced about his 2010 debut, where he won two golds, and noted how unbelievable it is to prepare for his fifth appearance. He acknowledged the physical reset he experienced after taking a break last year, encouraged by his father, Bert.

Now, at 34, he finds himself as the elder statesman in the pool, competing against much younger athletes. Despite his remarkable achievements, including an Olympic gold from 2012 and 16 world titles, he believes the Commonwealth Games won’t define his legacy. He aims to inspire future generations through his newly opened swimming academy in South Africa, where over 3,000 members are enrolled.

I'm swimming for a little bit more than just myself... I believe in two, three years' time we'll have the biggest club by far in Africa and maybe in the world,