South Africa’s le Clos breaks Commonwealth Games record with 19th medal

What the report says

Al Jazeera, carrying an Associated Press report published on July 25, 2026, said South African swimmer Chad le Clos became the most decorated male athlete in Commonwealth Games history after South Africa took bronze in the men’s 4x100-metre freestyle relay. The result gave the 34-year-old his 19th Commonwealth medal, moving him ahead of Australian shooter Phil Adams and England’s Mick Gault on the men’s all-time medal list.

The relay team featured Pieter Coetze, Guy Brooks, Ruard van Renen and le Clos, who were pictured with their bronze medals after the final. According to the report, le Clos described the moment on the Games website as deeply emotional despite the medal being bronze rather than gold. His Commonwealth Games tally now stands at seven gold medals, four silvers and eight bronzes.

The milestone adds to a long international career that began at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, where le Clos won five medals as an 18-year-old. The 2026 edition is his fifth Commonwealth Games. Al Jazeera/AP noted that he was still scheduled to compete in the 50-metre and 100-metre butterfly events at the Tollcross pool, leaving open the possibility of adding to the record.

Beyond the Commonwealth Games, le Clos has also been a major figure in global swimming, with four Olympic medals, including one gold, and 16 world titles, largely in butterfly events. The report said he intends to pursue a fifth Olympic appearance at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.