Chad le Clos eases into 100m fly semis

Cape Town - Chad le Clos put the disappointment of missing out on a medal in the 200m butterfly final by easing into the semi-finals of the 100m butterfly on Thursday.

Le Clos, swimming in Heat 5 (of 6), touched the wall in third place in a time of 51.75.

Michael Phelps, aiming for his fourth gold in Rio, finished second in his heat behind Singapore's Joseph Schooling in a time of 51.60.

Le Clos' time wound up to be the seventh-quickest overall.

Schooling's 51.41 was the fastest time of the heats.

Le Clos won a silver medal in the event in London four years ago, behind Phelps.

The semi-finals will take place later on Thursday (04:34 SA time).