South African swimmer Chad le Clos has become the most decorated athlete, winning his 21st medal at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2026. The milestone came after South Africa claimed bronze in the men’s 4x100m medley relay, surpassing Australian swimmer Emma McKeon’s previous record of 20 medals.
The Chad le Clos Commonwealth Games record grew further after he collected his third medal of the 2026 Games. Earlier in the competition, he won silver in the mixed 4x100m medley relay and bronze in the men’s 4x100m freestyle relay.
His remarkable tally now stands at 21 medals with seven gold, five silver, and nine bronze across five Commonwealth Games. Le Clos made his Games debut at Delhi 2010, winning five medals at the age of 18. He added seven medals in Glasgow 2014, five in Gold Coast 2018, one in Birmingham 2022, and three in Glasgow 2026.
Reflecting on the achievement, Le Clos described the relay medal as an emotional moment. He said his teammates told him they were swimming for him before the race, making the victory even more special.
Beyond the Commonwealth Games, Le Clos is also an Olympic champion. He famously defeated Michael Phelps by 0.05 seconds to win the 200m butterfly gold medal at the London 2012 Olympics, ending Phelps’ unbeaten run in the event since 2001. The South African swimmer has since competed at Rio, Tokyo, and Paris, and hopes to qualify for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. The Chad le Clos Commonwealth Games record further cements his place among the greatest swimmers in history.
