SPORTS FEATURE
THE YEAR EVERYTHING CHANGES
BY BYRON LUKAS
ONCE DEFINED BY MEDALS, NOW MOTIVATED BY PURPOSE. CHAD LE CLOS LOOKS AHEAD TO 2026 WITH STRENGTH AND CLARITY.
Every great athlete reaches a point when medals and milestones no longer define them. When Chad Le Clos speaks about swimming today, the enthusiasm remains, now influenced by the perspective that comes with experience. His motivations have shifted since he was 20.“ I worked really, really hard— a different kind of approach. In your thirties, it’ s more about a technical and speed focus. I’ m by far the strongest I have ever been,” he says. He now swims around 30 kilometres each week and feels stronger than ever, reflecting both physical and mental growth.
Behind his charisma and competitive drive lies a story of struggle. After his prime years, the next Olympic cycle presented challenges, especially in 2021 when he struggled at the Tokyo Games.“ I needed to seek help from a psychologist more than anything, and they pulled me out of a slump that year. It took just over a year to get me out of it,” he reflects.
Family remained his anchor.“ I’ ve got the best parents in the world, the best sister and two brothers. They keep me grounded; they keep me on the straight and narrow.”
30 INBOUND SA / JANUARY 2026