I didn't see him flinch, Le Clos says of Proud's DQ

Apr 06, 2018 06:00 am

South Africa's Chad le Clos said yesterday he'd rather come second to Ben Proud than lose him from the Commonwealth Games final after the 50m fly champ was disqualified for a false start.

Proud dominated le Clos in their heat and clocked what would have been a Games-record 22:84 seconds, but the Englishman was adjudged to have moved early on the blocks.

It left le Clos as the fastest swimmer in the morning's prelims with 23.53. But the four-time world champion insisted he would prefer to line up against Proud than go for gold without him.

"Absolutely, I'd rather come second - straight up," le Clos said."I'd rather come second to somebody that deserves to win, but we'll see what happens. I didn't see him flinch at all."

Poster-girl Sally Pearson dealt the Games a major blow by pulling out with an Achilles' heel injury yesterday. The Australian is the 100m hurdles world champion. - AFP