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Cape Town - South African Olympic medallist Chad le Clos had a lot on his mind heading into the 2016 Rio Olympics and trying to secure gold was definitely a challenge he was willing to face.
Despite picking up two silver medals, one race in particular stood out for the South African - his podium-less performance in the 200m butterfly. It was the event in which he was the defending champion after trumping Michael Phelps in London in 2012.
Unfortunately for the 24-year-old, he had to be consolidated with a fourth place finish in 1:54.06, as Phelps picked up his gold with a time of 1:53.36.
Soon after the race, a heartbroken Le Clos was unable to face the media and walked past the group of South African journalists waiting for his comment.
Eventually, Le Clos admitted that he wanted to cry, but didn’t, with his dad Bert saying: "Le Clos' only cry when we win. We don't cry when we lose."
In an interview with YOU Magazine, the Olympic medallist said that the 200m race was one he’ll regret for the rest of his life.
“It’s two minutes of my life I’ll regret for the rest of my life,” Le Clos said.
"It was the worst race of my life - the worst race of my career. It was horrendous. Just thinking about it gives me nightmares.
“When you win you’re up there, then suddenly when you lose it’s a long way down,” he told YOU.
A little more than two weeks after competing at the Rio Games, Le Clos bounced back by winning 200m butterfly gold in the FINA Swimming World Cup legs in Paris, Berlin and Moscow.
The fourth leg of the FINA Swimming World Cup continues in Beijing on September 30.
