With Michael Phelps retired, Le Clos seeks new inspiration

A year ago, Chad le Clos beat his idol Michael Phelps in the 200 butterfly at the London Olympics.

With Phelps retired, the South African needs to find new inspiration at the world championships, where the traditional pool events begin Sunday.

"I guess I'm going to miss him a little bit," Le Clos said Wednesday. "My whole swimming career was about training to beat Michael Phelps in any race I possibly could.

"Last year was huge for me," Le Clos added. "Nobody expected me to win that race and now going into world championships is different for me — having the target for me on my back. I just have to prepare like I do for each race."

And while he won't be competing, Phelps will be in Barcelona to represent his sponsors. He'll also receive an award from swimming governing body FINA.

Phelps will get back in the water with Le Clos when they head to South Africa for some shark-cage diving.

"I'm actually quite scared of sharks," Le Clos said. "I don't know how he convinced me."

The pair could have a different type of reunion at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, if the speculation about the American's return turns out to be true.

"I don't think it's for me to say if he's going to come back or not. That's up to Michael Phelps," Le Clos said. "But if he does come back, I don't think it will change much in my preparations. But I have spoken to him."

The 21-year-old Le Clos chose his words carefully, something he has learned to do well during the past year since becoming one of the biggest stars in South Africa.

"I wasn't used to all these cameras getting stuck in my face," he said about his return home following his success in London, when he earned silver behind Phelps in the 100 fly. "I feel like Justin Bieber sometimes."

All the post-Olympic attention cut into Le Clos' training time, which led to a right shoulder injury late last year.

"It happened after break trying to come back too early," he said. "We have a lot of juniors coming through and they were all beating me and I don't like to lose, so sometimes I just get a bit silly. I train too hard and then I get injured."

In all, Le Clos missed about three months of training before resuming at full speed in February.

"I don't make any excuses now," said Le Clos, adding he didn't require surgery. "I'm feeling good."

Still, it won't be easy competition inside the Palau Sant Jordi arena.

In June, Le Clos trained with 20-year-old Bence Biczo and veteran Laszlo Cseh in Hungary. At the Hungarian nationals, Biczo won the 200 fly ahead of Le Clos, with Cseh in third.

And Le Clos will have to deal with American standout Ryan Lochte, who has dropped the 400 individual medley and added the 100 fly to his program.

As for the 50 fly, Le Clos doesn't have big expectations.

"I've never been a sprinter," he said. "If I can make the final, that will be a great race for me."

Le Clos swam the 200 and 400 IM in London but dropped those races here because of his shoulder injury. He wants to get back to those events, and possibly add the 100 and 200 freestyle, too.

Whatever he swims, Le Clos now has a big target on his back.