Champion human
SOUTH Africa’s swimmers have been successful at major competitions virtually since the nation’s return from isolation. Think back to “Golden Girl” Penny Heyns at the 1996 Olympics, who was South Africa’s first post-apartheid Olympian gold medallist when she won both the 100m and 200m breaststroke events.
In 2004, it was the turn of the “Awesome Foursome” of Roland Schoeman, Lyndon Ferns, Darian Townsend and Ryk Neethling to claim the headlines, followed by Cameron van der Burgh.
This proud swimming tradition has been carried on by the current king of the pool, the boy from Pinetown in Durban, Chad le Clos.
The most telling aspect of Le Clos and Van der Burgh’s success is that they were trained here in South Africa, unlike Heyns, Schoeman and Neethling, who were all forced to seek tutelage in the US.
It for this reason that Le Clos – a double gold Olympian, Commonwealth and World Champion – recently launched the Chad le Clos Academy in Cape Town.
The 26-year-old is “Proudly South African” and wants to aid the process of developing world-class homegrown swimming champions.
Equally, he hopes his academy will also teach the basic skill of swimming to the disadvantaged.
“We are by far the best swimming nation in the world pro rata‚ with two world titles out of a possible 19,” the most decorated Commonwealth Games swimmer recently said.
“I really want to see the growth of swimming as a sport by helping existing swimmers improve and encouraging beginners to learn our sport and develop life skills.”
THE fact that Le Clos has not lost focus of the importance of “life skills” cannot be lauded enough. South Africa needs its role models to invest and plough back into their respective fields, especially when it involves the youth, in order for this country to continue to grow and prosper.
The fact that Le Clos has not waited until his retirement, instead doing this while still at the peak of his career, is even more commendable.
Le Clos has shown that he is not just a champion in the pool, but also a champion human being.