FEATURE
Photos courtesy of Anton Geyser, World Aquatics & SASCOC | Team SA
From teenage sensation to Commonwealth king, Chad le Clos reflects on 16 years of triumphs, tough times and a devastating fire that put it all into perspective.
By Karien Jonckheere
10 www. modernathlete. co. za
Delhi 2010, and a teenage Chad le Clos is beaming from the podium. Spotty skin, highlighted hair and just 18 years old, he had just made his opening statement. Gold in the 200m butterfly, soon to be followed by another gold in the 400m individual medley, with everything still ahead of him.
“ I was very emotional. I think if the anthem had been any longer I might have cried,” said the Westville Boys High School student at the time.
16 years on, and the tears were flowing freely. The schoolboy has since become an Olympic champion, famously beaten the best athlete in swimming history, and notched up a medal list as impressive as his beautiful butterfly stroke: four Olympic medals, 27 world championship medals( long and short course) and the most ever World Cup medals by a male swimmer.