Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Chad celebrates his birthday swimmingly
CELEBRATING his 26th birthday at the Commonwealth Games in Australia was the cherry on top for Durban’s swimming star Chad le Clos, who was in record-breaking form at the Games this week.
As he and his family wrap up the marathon swimming fest, Le Clos thanked South Africans for their support.
“I really feel the love, a big thanks to everyone,” he told Independent Media from the Gold Coast yesterday.
Le Clos entered the record books by becoming the first swimmer to win gold medals in three consecutive Commonwealth Games, and with 17 medals in total over the three editions, he’s become the Games’ most decorated swimmer. He won five medals at this year’s edition.
“It’s been a wonderful week, it couldn’t have gone better. The second half of the week was fantastic celebrating my birthday with my family and friends,” said Le Clos, who turned 26 on Thursday.
The Games end today.
The family head back to Durban on Monday, while Le Clos flies to Cape Town where he will continue to train.
His dad, Bert, also speaking to the paper from Australia, said: “The medals were unbelievable and everyone is happier than we’ve ever been. All I can say is that my liver can’t take much more of the celebrations.”
Bert and his wife Geraldine and son Jordan were in Australia supporting Chad.
Le Clos is to make an announcement soon about a new initiative he will be launching, focused on swimming.
Le Clos famously pipped US swimming sensation Michael Phelps at the 2012 Olympics in London in the 200m butter- fly. He completed the swim in 1 min 52.96 sec, 0.05 seconds faster than Phelps.
The following year he had the silver Order of Ikhamanga conferred on him for his inter- national swimming achievements, and in 2014 he scooped a host of first prizes at the World Short Course Swimming Championships and was named Swimmer of the Year.