Chad le Clos and Michael Phelps will continue their intense rivalry in the 100m butterfly at the Rio Olympics on Thursday night after cruising through their heats.
Phelps gained revenge over Le Clos in the 200m butterfly on Tuesday night (Wednesday morning SA time) when he won his 20th Olympic gold medal, reclaiming the title the South African had wrenched from him in sensational fashion at the 2012 London Olympics.
Le Clos, who some felt had baited Phelps in Rio with his pre-race “Eye of the Tiger” warm-up routine before the semi-final right in front of his rival in the waiting room, finished out of the medals in fourth in the final despite being second up to the 150m mark.
But while the 24-year-old would’ve been devastated to miss out on the top three, he will hope to at least move up one position in the 100m butterfly final.
Le Clos came third in his heat on Thursday evening in 51.75, with Phelps finishing second in the very next race in 51.60. The two semi-finals are scheduled for 4.34am and 4.42am SA time on Friday morning.
In other swimming results, South African Bradley Tandy qualified for the 50m freestyle semi-finals after ending fourth in his heat in 21.96, and he was 12th fastest out of the 16 who advanced.
His compatriot Douglas Erasmus also came fourth in his heat in 22.37, which was not quick enough to place him in the top 16.
The two men’s 50m freestyle semi-finals are set to take place at 3.03am and 3.10am SA time on Friday morning.
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