Le Clos makes SA Olympic history

Cape Town - Chad le Clos became South Africa's most decorated Olympian in their 112-year history with his silver in the 100m butterfly on Friday.

READ: Chad le Clos not happy as Michael Phelps rivalry ends

Le Clos - unbelievably - touched in a three-way tie with American legend Michael Phelps and Hungary's Laszlo Cseh in the final (51.14), well behind winner, Singapore's Joseph Schooling (50.39).

The silver gave Le Clos a fourth Olympic medal - the most by any South African since the country first contested an Olympic Games back in St Louis, USA in 1904.

Le Clos' other medals came earlier in Rio in the 200m freestyle (silver) as well as a memorable gold in the 200m butterfly in London in 2012, and a silver in the 100m butterfly at the same Games.

Le Clos' fourth medal broke him out of a tie with fellow swimmers Penny Heyns and Roland Schoeman.