Imagine an Olympic gold medalist, well into his career, still lighting up the scoreboard and proving that age is just a number in the world of elite swimming. That's Chad le Clos, defying expectations and snagging a bronze medal in the 100-meter butterfly at the 2025 Swimming World Cup in Carmel. His ecstatic reaction, "I’m over the moon," captures the sheer joy of this victory, and it leaves us wondering: can legends like him keep rewriting the rules of athletic longevity? Dive in with me as we unpack this inspiring story, complete with all the details on the event, how you can catch the action, and a few thought-provoking angles that might just spark some heated debates in the comments.
The 2025 Swimming World Cup stop in Carmel, Indiana, ran from October 10-12, 2025, showcasing short-course meters (SCM) swimming in a 25-meter pool. For beginners new to the sport, SCM refers to races held in a compact pool, which demands explosive power and quick turns compared to the longer 50-meter Olympic pools—think of it as sprinting on steroids, where every second counts and technique can make or break your time. You can access the meet's central hub at the World Aquatics website (https://www.worldaquatics.com/competitions/4969/world-aquatics-swimming-world-cup-2025), check out the psych sheets for pre-race predictions (https://swimswam.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/ENTRIES_BOOK.pdf), follow live results in real-time (https://www.omegatiming.com/2025/world-aquatics-swimming-world-cup01-live-results), and find all the essential links in one handy spot (https://swimswam.com/all-the-links-you-need-for-the-2025-carmel-world-cup-stop/).
Chad le Clos, a seasoned veteran of the World Cup circuit, demonstrated he's far from fading, securing third place in the 100 fly. For context, le Clos is a two-time Olympic champion in the butterfly events, and his performance here underscores his enduring competitiveness, especially as he navigates the latter stages of the Olympic quadrennium— that's the four-year cycle leading up to the Games, where athletes like him balance training with peak performances. Interestingly, he won't be joining the rest of the tour at the other two stops because he needs to head back to South Africa to launch his swim schools. This choice highlights a fascinating balance between professional glory and personal passions. But here's where it gets controversial: is prioritizing entrepreneurial ventures over additional races a savvy move for his legacy, or is it a missed opportunity to chase more hardware and cement his status in swimming history? Some might argue that athletes owe it to fans to compete fully, while others say diversifying into coaching and education creates a bigger impact. And this is the part most people miss—by investing in swim schools, le Clos isn't just swimming; he's building the next generation of champions, potentially influencing the sport's future in ways podium finishes alone can't.
If you're eager to soak up the competition from home, we've got you covered with a full guide on viewing options (https://swimswam.com/how-to-watch-2025-world-cup-carmel-stop/). For U.S. audiences, tune in to both preliminary heats and finals via the USA Swimming Network (https://www.usaswimming.org/utility/landing-pages/usa-swimming-network) or stream on-demand with Peacock (https://www.peacocktv.com/?cid=2401libgenpkpdsearch16851&utmcampaign=2401libgen&utmsource=pkggl&utmmedium=pdsearchacqsrcpy&utmterm=6481429429&utmcontent=73015049690718162897395&gclsrc=aw.ds&gadsource=1&gadcampaignid=6481429429&gbraid=0AAAAACqYaJqWLGv2GLQ1-6SCNLKxbOFvJ&gclid=CjwKCAjwup3HBhAAEiwA7euZunULr8sLBlb0K9u3UtLxvI573ADVCCa7lqb7U5LtSPo91eBy7c4KBoC8wQAvD_BwE). Canadians can catch every session live on CBC (https://www.cbc.ca/sports), and viewers across most European countries will find the action on the Eurovision Sport platform (https://eurovisionsport.com/explore/sport?id=EBU-Home-Aquatics). Don't forget the World Aquatics Recast channel (https://www.worldaquatics.com/where-to-watch/live&ondemand) for live streams and on-demand replays— a three-day pass costs just 590 credits, which translates to about $8.26 USD, making it an affordable way to dive deep into the meets.
In This Story
- Chad le Clos (https://swimswam.com/bio/chad-le-clos/)
Chad le Clos (https://swimswam.com/bio/chad-le-clos/)
About Coleman Hodges
Coleman Hodges (https://swimswam.com/bio/coleman-hodges/)
Coleman kicked off his swimming adventure at just one year old, though he can't recall those early splashes—clearly, the water world made a lasting impression! Hailing from Missouri, he became a member of the Columbia Swim Club at nine, where he's fondly remembered for sporting some seriously stylish dragon-patterned swim trunks. Despite abandoning competitive swimming later on, his passion for the sport never waned...
Read More » (https://swimswam.com/bio/coleman-hodges/)
What do you think—should athletes like le Clos focus solely on competition, or is branching out into business and education a forward-thinking strategy? Do you agree that his swim school venture could inspire more young swimmers than another medal? Share your thoughts in the comments; I'd love to hear if this sparks any debates!
