Chad le Clos won a gold medal at the Fina World Swimming short course Championships in Hangzhou on Thursday.

The 26-year-old won the 100m butterfly in a time of 48.50sec, 0.21 ahead of American Caeleb Dressel, with China’s Zhuhao Li taking bronze in 49.25.

‘It was the biggest race of my short course career. I was up against the best field by far and this was the main event of the whole week,’ said Le Clos.

‘I am very grateful I got the gold, it was a tough race. I was anxious because I was waiting the whole day for this, the whole week and the past three months because I knew this one could come.

‘I really wanted to race Dressel. He is the best short course yards swimmer and I am the best metres swimmer. It was difficult for him because he had the 50m freestyle beforehand. It is a great evening.

‘After the first night, people thought I was winded and I have always told them that is the biggest mistake they can make because after I have lost I come back much stronger. Tonight was important. I needed the win tonight.’

It was South Africa’s second gold medal of the championship after Cameron van der Burgh won the 100m breaststroke on Wednesday.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wo9Vcaekfyw