Satyendra Pathak
Doha
Renowned athlete and OMEGA Ambassador Chad Le Clos visited the OMEGA Boutique at Doha Festival City. As a key participant at the World Aquatics Championships in Doha, Le Clos took the opportunity on Monday to engage with the media to share insights about his partnership with OMEGA and celebrate the enduring bond between precision timekeeping and sport.
Having achieved incredible success in world swimming, Chad le Clos has become one of today’s most recognized swimmers.
The South African won famous gold and silver medals at London 2012, and then extended his tally at Rio 2016, where he won two more silver medals for the 200m freestyle and the 100m butterfly, making him the greatest South African Olympian of all time.
At the 2022 World Championships short course in Melbourne, Chad added two more golds to his impressive tally, which includes sixteen World Championship medals in short and long course events. Chad is also the greatest ever male World Cup swimmer in history in terms of gold medals won.
Chad Le Clos, renowned for his remarkable achievements in the world of swimming, including four Olympic Games medals, captivated the audience with his charismatic presence and shared anecdotes from his journey as an athlete.
Chad Le Clos is representing South Africa during the 21st World Aquatics Championships which will be competed in Doha, where the very best athletes will gather from the 2nd to the 18th of February. OMEGA has proudly served as the Official Timekeeper of World Aquatics events since 1973, when the federation’s first ever World Aquatics Championships took place. This association follows the Swiss brand’s long history of sports timekeeping, most notably at the Olympic Games, at which OMEGA has served as Official Timekeeper on 30 occasions since 1932.
Amidst the buzz of the World Aquatics Championships, Le Clos took time to connect with OMEGA customers and media alike, signing autographs and posing for photographs.
Talking to Qatar Tribune about his longstanding partnership with OMEGA, Chad Le Clos expressed his gratitude for the brand’s unwavering support throughout his career.
Le Clos said, “OMEGA has been an integral part of my journey as an athlete. Their commitment to precision and excellence resonates deeply with me, both in and out of the pool. I am honoured to represent such an iconic brand.”
The visit of Chad Le Clos to the OMEGA boutique not only reinforced the brand’s dedication to sports and athleticism but also its commitment to fostering meaningful connections with its ambassadors and watch enthusiasts in this region.
The OMEGA Boutique at Doha Festival City served as the perfect backdrop for this momentous occasion, offering a luxurious ambiance where the worlds of horology and athleticism converged beautifully.
He said, “It is great to be back to Doha for World Aquatics Championships. My first time here was during the World Championships in 2014, which was very successful for me. So, it’s a very lucky place for me to be. Yeah, just happy to be back. It’s such a beautiful city. This is a good preparation for us for the upcoming Olympic Games and yeah, teams Africa is doing pretty good at the moment.”
Giving details about his long-time association with OMEGA, Le Clos said, “OMEGA has been a family to me for the last well over a decade now. Our first association with the brand was during the Olympic Games in 2010. I had just turned 18. It was such a big honour for me, and I signed officially in January 2011. So, it’s a long time.”
Chad Le Clos also took the opportunity to spoke about returning to the podium in Paris 2024 and reaching his fifth Olympics at LA 2028.
Targeting his fourth appearance at the Olympic Games, Le Clos has his mind set on ascending the podium in Paris 2024, eight years after his silver medal haul in Rio 2016. In interview with Qatar Tribune, the butterfly specialist expressed a desire for another gold.
“Of course, for Paris, we are aiming for medals. There is no secret about that. Gold would be an absolute dream,” Le Clos said on the eve of the Doha 2024 World Aquatics Championships.
“That would be one of the best comeback stories ever. But baby steps. Let’s just get myself to Doha. Let’s get myself to the Olympic final, and then we’ll see what happens.”
Winning gold at this year’s Olympic Games would see Le Clos knock US icon Michael Phelps off his perch as the oldest swimmer to win a gold medal in any butterfly event at the global showpiece. Phelps won the 200m butterfly gold medal aged 31 years and 40 days, reclaiming the crown he conceded to Le Clos in London in 2012.
Le Clos, who turns 32 in April, has some unfinished business at the Olympic Games after going home empty-handed in Tokyo 2020 (in 2021). Winning a medal of any colour – taking his tally to five – would cement his legacy as one of South Africa’s greatest all-time sports stars.
Chad le Clos said that beating his idol Michael Phelps in the 200 butterfly at the London Olympics was the highest point in his sporting journey.
Already South Africa’s most decorated Olympian with his gold and three silver medals, Le Clos hopes to add to his nation’s success on the global stage in recent times.
“It’s just a winning time for us (South Africa) at the moment. And I think my motivation is just to be the best ever South African has ever had in all sports. That’s ultimately my goal,” Le Clos said.
“I’ve done it now at the Olympics, and another medal or two would secure that. I’ve got all the accolades with the World Championships and the Commonwealth Games. But for me, I just want to go down as the best ever sportsman South Africa has ever had. That’s truly my goal.”
But first, he will be looking to gain some positive momentum in the build-up to Paris, starting with the World Championships in Doha.
