For this week’s Sports Crush Saturday we take a look at some of World and Commonwealth Champion Chad le Clos’ greatest moments both in and out of the pool.
Photo Copyright – Steve Haag Sports
Durban-born World and Commonwealth Champion Chad le Clos started swimming at the age of 10 and like the prodigy he was, made the senior
Olympic squad by the age of 14. The teenager overachieved in a huge way, earning two senior South African records, Commonwealth Junior and
Senior records. In 2010 le Clos also competed at the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in
Singapore, where he won five medals at the age of 18.
As if his achievements were not already jaw-dropping, Chad
le Clos went on to become the first athlete to represent South Africa in any
sport to win more than three medals at the Olympic Games when he claimed silver
in the 100m butterfly at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro following gold and
silver medals at the 2012 Games in London.
le Clos went on to become the first athlete to represent South Africa in any
sport to win more than three medals at the Olympic Games when he claimed silver
in the 100m butterfly at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro following gold and
silver medals at the 2012 Games in London.
Chad made history at The XXI Commonwealth Games 2018 at the Gold Coast in April as he became the most successful Commonwealth swimmer of
all time. His three golds in the 50m, 100m and 200m butterfly along with a
silver in the 100m freestyle and bronze in 4x100m medley relay brought his
medal tally up to 17 in total.
all time. His three golds in the 50m, 100m and 200m butterfly along with a
silver in the 100m freestyle and bronze in 4x100m medley relay brought his
medal tally up to 17 in total.
In 2018 as one of the world’s most decorated athletes, launched his
foundation (The Chad le Clos Foundation), partnering with the Midmar Mile and Aquelle with the aim to raise funds to advance the development, participation
and the performance of swimming within South Africa. This also saw le Clos
launch his first academy in Claremont Cape Town the same year, the
academy can be described as “the perfect flagship venue to develop the teaching
of swimming technique and fitness in fun and engaging ways”- according to the Chad le Clos Academy.
foundation (The Chad le Clos Foundation), partnering with the Midmar Mile and Aquelle with the aim to raise funds to advance the development, participation
and the performance of swimming within South Africa. This also saw le Clos
launch his first academy in Claremont Cape Town the same year, the
academy can be described as “the perfect flagship venue to develop the teaching
of swimming technique and fitness in fun and engaging ways”- according to the Chad le Clos Academy.
The zeal and determination that Le Clos has shown in his
years of swimming is a great inspiration, I for one feel like getting up and sharpening
my skills so I too can power through the pool.
years of swimming is a great inspiration, I for one feel like getting up and sharpening
my skills so I too can power through the pool.
Written by Hazel Tobo for Hollywoodbets.
