South African swimmer Chad le Clos, 34, aims to become the most decorated male athlete in Commonwealth Games history at Glasgow 2026. His current haul of 18 medals - seven golds, four silvers and seven bronzes - ties him with shooters Phil Adams of Australia and Mick Gault of England. Le Clos will compete in the men's 50m and 100m butterfly events.

The Durban-born swimmer, who debuted at Delhi 2010 aged 18, admits the record has been a "weird monkey on my back" since missing the chance in 2018. Mental health issues hampered his 2022 Birmingham campaign where he won only one silver. After a disappointing Paris 2024 Olympics, his father Bert advised a 12-week break - his first ever - which provided a crucial physical reset.

Now an elder statesman racing against teenagers, Le Clos has also built a swimming academy in South Africa with 13 clubs and over 3,000 members, targeting 50 clubs within two years. This perspective shift fuels his hunger for a fifth Olympics at Los Angeles 2028. "As long as I'm still in the mix fighting for medals in the final, there's no reason for me to retire," he says.