Chad and Cameron Scoop GOLD at World Cup in Paris

Hot on the heels of the Olympic Games in Rio, South Africa’s silver-medallists Chad le Clos and Cameron van der Burgh have both raced to Gold in their respective races today at the 2016 FINA World Cup series in Paris-Chartres!

Chad le Clos won the Men’s 200m butterfly for the 19th time! Only two male swimmers have ever won a specific individual event more often (both 21 times). Le Clos swum in a time of 1:51.25.

And less than an hour later Cameron van der Burgh won the Men’s 200m breaststroke for the second time in his career, in a time of 2:05.12.

The first time was nearly nine years ago when he won the gold medal in this event on 19 October 2007 in Durban.

Update: And soon after his win, Le Clos won Gold in the Men’s 50m butterfly (in 22.17) for the 10th time, equal to Geoff Huegill (Australia). Only South Africa’s Roland Schoeman has won more – 19. Le Clos has won the last seven men’s 50m butterfly races.

Several of the champions and medallists from the Olympic Games have travelled to Paris-Chartres for this first leg of the World Cup series.

This year the Cup has returned to its short course format (25m pools) after using 50m pools last year in preparation for the Olympics.

At a press conference last night Le Clos said: “It is great to be back to the 25m-pool as we all have Windsor in mind. Our objective is to achieve good performances at the World Swimming Championships in Windsor so this format gives us one more opportunity to get ready.” 

Van der Burgh was last year’s overall men’s winner of the World Cup series, scooping a cool $100,000 for his awesome achievement.

The total prize money on offer for the series – which is divided into clusters in Europe, the Middle East and Asia – is $2-million.

Although Le Clos won five of the seven men’s 100m freestyle races in 2014, he chose not to compete in the event today. (South African swimmers hold the record for winning this event a record 22 times!)

The two-day competition in Paris-Chartres includes 36 events and approximately 115 international swimmers.

Next stop in this cluster, will be Berlin (Germany) at the end of the month and then Moscow (Russia) in early September.

#CongratulationsGoldenBoys #GoChadAndCameron #MakingSouthAfricaProud

Chad on Twitter:

Happy with tonight double gold in Paris, feels good to representing 🇿🇦 again and back on the gold train pic.twitter.com/GQLXK86BUD

— Chad Le Clos (@chadleclos) August 26, 2016

Cameron’s Pics on Twitter:

We just chilling…

For night up on World Cup tonight with this machine! @chadleclos92 @ArenaPeople pic.twitter.com/y3voyNuJXo

— Cameron van der Burgh OIS (@Cameronvdburgh) August 26, 2016

Good luck to all the Saffers swimming SA Short course all the way from France! 🇫🇷🇿🇦 pic.twitter.com/6JzIRhuttS

— Cameron van der Burgh OIS (@Cameronvdburgh) August 25, 2016