No rest for Chad, back home and training

DURBAN’S Olympic medal winner Chad Le Clos set a fine example for aspirant Olympians when he took to the water at Lahee Park, Pinetown, yesterday to resume training, just hours after arriving in his home town from Rio.

Junior swimmers eagerly shook his hand in congratulations and watched in awe as he swam a few laps.

Le Clos has the title of the South African with the most Olympic medals after he bagged two silvers - in the 200m freestyle and the 100m butterfly - to add to his gold and silver from the London Olympics.

But there’s no time to rest for the former Westville Boy’s High pupil as he resumed training for next week’s Fina/ airweave World Cup in Paris.

Despite the two medals, Le Clos said he was disappointed.

“It’s been a week since my swim in Rio and I’ve had a bit of time to think about it and I am still disappointed at not having won gold. It wasn’t what I wanted as I had worked very hard and prepared myself to win two gold medals. I made errors. I don’t want to go into the reasons, but I am not making any excuses,” he said.

Le Clos faced off against Michael Phelps in the 200m, an event in which he beat his American rival in London four years ago. It was a much anticipated race and the drama was heightened by a photograph of Phelps scowling while Le Clos shadow boxed in front of him.

“Look, many people are going to talk about me and Phelps, but I don’t have much to say on that as I had done my best in London and won gold. This time around I was preparing for another win and did not get it. I’m proud of my achievements and it is an accomplishment as we don’t have the best facilities compared with other parts of the world.”

He wants to be upbeat about the experience. “For every cloud there is a silver lining,” he said, “pun intended”.

“I was able to come home and be with my family. It’s difficult being away from them, especially my parents with their health concerns. But we have to do what we can and deal with what life throws at us.

“Right now, I am very happy to be home,” he said.

His dad, Bert, recently had surgery for prostate cancer while his mum, Geraldine, had a double mastectomy and is undergoing chemotherapy.

Today, the Le Clos family will have a party with family and friends before the swimmer jets off to Paris next week.

“I will also spend a week in London and watch the Manchester United versus City game as I’ve been invited to the Sir Alex Ferguson box, so I’m very excited for that.

“Then, after the championships, I will return home and continue training.

“In November, I head to Singapore, Tokyo and Hong Kong for the world shortcourse championships,” said Le Clos.