Canada’s Josh Liendo successfully defended his men’s 100m butterfly title in the tightest of margins, hitting the wall in a championship record at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland on Sunday (26 July).
The Paris 2024 Olympic silver medallist fended off a late challenge from Matt Temple, touching in a winning time of 50.42 seconds, just 0.01s ahead of the Australian in second place. Temple’s teammate Ben Armbruster rounded out the podium in 50.58 to make it an Australian 2-3 finish.
“They didn’t give me any room to breathe,” Liendo said. “The first thing I looked for was the ‘1 ‘, and I was like, ‘Yes!’ Then I looked again and thought, ‘That was a close one.” It was a great moment.”
Temple looked set to upgrade his 100m butterfly silver from the previous Games after setting a Commonwealth Games record of 50.63 during the semi-finals.
But Liendo took control of the race, turning first with Armbruster on his shoulder and Temple a stroke or two behind.
Temple produced a surge over the final metres of the race with Liendo keeping his cool to out-touch the Australian for a 1-2 repeat of the Birmingham 2022 result.
Meanwhile, South African swimming legend Chad le Clos missed out on the podium, finishing in fifth place in 51.49.
Le Clos, a two-time champion in the event, was chasing another slice of history after his record-setting feat on the first night of swimming, where he became the most decorated male athlete in Commonwealth Games history.
The 34-year-old South African is now one medal away from becoming the joint most decorated athlete at the Commonwealth Games of any gender, matching Emma McKeon’s record of 20.
Le Clos started his fifth Commonwealth Games with a bang, becoming the most decorated male athlete at the quadrennial showpiece, adding the men’s 4×100-meter freestyle relay bronze medal to his collection.
The four-time Olympic medallist leapfrogged shooters Phil Adams of Australia and Mick Gault of England with his 19th medal.
Le Clos boasts seven golds, four silvers and eight bronzes from five appearances at the multi-sport showpiece, and looks on form to continue adding to his tally.
read more: https://www.olympics.com/en/news/commonwealth-games-2026-josh-liendo-canada-defends-100m-butterfly-crown-record-time
