Chad le Clos made waves in the world of competitive swimming at the 2012 Olympic Games when he out swam his icon Michael Phelps by 0.5 seconds.
Born in Durban to Bert and Geraldine le Clos, Chad is one of four children and part of a very close-knit family. He began swimming competitively at the age of ten, and had already made the senior Olympic squad by the time he was 14. By the age of 18 he held two senior South African records, as well as the Commonwealth Junior and Senior records.
Le Clos also competed in the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in Singapore, bringing home five medals. In 2010, he won gold in every major event he competed in, including the Commonwealth Games in Delhi and the FINA Short Course World Championships in Dubai.
Le Clos has won gold at three events he has participated in during they year’s Gold Coast Commonwealth Games hosted in Australia, including Men’s 100 Butterfly, Men’s 200m Butterfly, as well as Men’s 50m Butterfly. He won the silver medal for the Men’s 100m Freestyle.
The swimming star celebrates his birthday on the Gold Coast today, with mum Geraldine. The swimmer turns 26 years old, and we from Cape Town ETC would just like to say happy birthday, Chad!
COMMONWEALTH GAMES: Team South Africa wishes swimmer Chad Le Clos and athlete Antonio Alkana the best of birthday wishes for today. All the very best to both of you!
— TeamSouthAfrica (@TeamSA18) April 12, 2018
ANOTHER GOLD MEDAL FOR CHAD LE CLOS!
That’s a third gold for him at Gold Coast 2018 and sixteen career Commonwealth Games medals after winning the men’s 100m butterfly final. #GC2018 pic.twitter.com/dXFypjcFha
— SuperSport (@SuperSportTV) April 9, 2018
#DiscoveryVitality‘s @chadleclos is officially the most decorated swimmer ever at the Commonwealth Games 2018! He has won an incredible five medals @GC2018, winning 17 medals over 3 editions. Well done to the champ ? #GC2018 ????? pic.twitter.com/av5Y7e3Wfy
— Discovery (@Discovery_SA) April 11, 2018
IN FOCUS | Former World surfing Champion @Mick_Fanning took @chadleclos @AnnaMeares & @JessGallagher86 to the beach to catch some waves. Read: https://t.co/sZyw0TBKUk #GC2018 pic.twitter.com/FiTFDHJIdQ
— Gold Coast 2018 (@GC2018) April 11, 2018
We’ve just seen the Treble ?
?? @chadleclos becomes the first male to win the 50m, 100m and 200m in the same program!
Absolute class ?#GC2018 #7CommGames pic.twitter.com/CSwDBszYyD
— 7CommGames (@7CommGames) April 9, 2018
Pictures: Twitter/Instagram