Michael Phelps vs Chad le Clos
Michael Phelps vs Chad le Clos: head-to-head — careers, honours, key numbers and why the rivalry matters.
Why compare Michael Phelps and Chad le Clos?
Le Clos emerged as one of Phelps's primary rivals, famously defeating him in the 200 m butterfly at the 2012 Olympics, showcasing the competitive nature of their encounters.
Michael Phelps
Key numbers
- Olympic Medals28
- Olympic Gold Medals23
- World Championships (Long Course) Medals66
- Pan Pacific Championships Medals21
Top honours
- Olympic Gold Medals23 gold medals across four Olympic Games
- Olympic MedalsTotal of 28 Olympic medals
- World Championships (Long Course)26 gold medals
- World Swimmer of the YearAwarded eight times
- American Swimmer of the YearAwarded eleven times
VS
Chad le Clos
Key numbers
- Olympic Medals4
- World Championships Medals34
- Commonwealth Games Medals18
- African Games Medals9
- Swimming World Cup Overall Titles4
Top honours
- Olympic Gold Medal200m butterfly at the 2012 London Olympics
- Olympic Silver Medals100m butterfly and 200m freestyle at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics
- World Championships Gold Medals4 in long course events
- World Championships Gold Medals12 in short course events
- Commonwealth Games MedalsTotal of 18 medals including 7 golds