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Things you did not know about Chad Le Clos, best African Swimmer

Chad Le Clos

Chad Le Clos achievements

Chad Le Clos

Chad Le Clos.[Credit/edition.cnn.com]

Chad Guy Bertrand Le Clos is a South African competitive swimmer, born on 12th April 1992 in Durban, South Africa.

His parents are Bert Le Clos and Geraldine Le Clos. Chad also has siblings named Bianca Matos, Justine Le Clos and Jordan Le Clos.

Known for his great achievements in swimming, Chad has been crowned several awards.

He is the Olympic, World and Commonwealth Games champion as well as the Commonwealth record holder in the 50 and 100-metre butterfly.

Chad is one of the Olympic players that have managed to win medals. He won a gold medal in the 200-metre butterfly and Silver in the 100-metre butterfly in the 2012 Olympics in London.

In the 2016 Summer Olympics, Le Clos as well bagged silver medals in the 200-metre freestyle and 100-metre butterfly.

However, those are not the only achievements that Chad has. At the 2010 Summer Youth Olympics that were held in Singapore, he won five medals.

Career Progression

Chad Le Clos

Chad Le Clos.[Credit/news24.com]

Le Clos has as well won the Overall Swimming World Cup four times in the years 2011, 2013, 2014 and 2017.

The Swimming icon impressively claimed three gold medals in the 50m, 100m and 200m butterfly events at the Commonwealth Games held in 2018.

“He also placed second in the 100m freestyle and third, along with teammates Cameron van der Burgh, Calvyn Justus and Brad Tandy, in the 4×100 medley relay. With another win in the 200m butterfly, Le Clos made history by becoming the first man to win three consecutive 200m butterfly Commonwealth titles. Le Clos was named SwimSwam’s 2014 Swammy Award-winner for Male Swimmer of the Year. He currently represents Energy Standard in the International Swimming League.”

Chad has ventured into various swimming events, including the 2010 short Course World Championships and Commonwealth Games.

At the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, India, Le Clos collected 2 gold, 1 silver and 2 bronze medals. He won the titles in the 200-metre butterfly and the 400-metre individual medley, breaking the Games record in both events.

At the World Short Course Championships in Dubai, Le Clos bagged a gold medal in the 200-metre butterfly.  He finished fifth in the 200-metre butterfly, 13th in the 100-metre butterfly and 10th in the 4 × 100 m medley relay with his teammates, at the 2011 World Aquatics Championships.

Chad also took part in the 2012 Olympics, 2013, 2015, 2017 and 2019 Long Course World Championships, 2014 Season and he has bagged the FINA Swimmer of the year Award.

Net worth

Reports indicate that Le Clos’ net worth in 2020 was between $1 million and $5 million. His current net worth is reportedly under review.

Le Clos’ salary

Unlike many Olympic players, Chad took a 65% salary cut to help struggling swimmers, something that was hailed by many.

Le Clos has in life signed a deal with a Professional Sports Group (PSG).

“The sports marketing and athlete management company will act as the exclusive agent handling all of the 21-year-old’s commercial and media activities globally. It will also work to develop the swimmer’s brand, media profile and partnership strategy in the build-up to Rio 2016.”

Chad has also given back to society through various charity works. In 2018, the Olympic champion announced the launch of the Le Clos Foundation, an organization aimed at promoting and developing swimming within his home nation of South Africa.

Also read: Meet Michael Phelps, 23 Gold medalist, the most in the history of the Olympics

Being a Discovery Vitality ambassador, coach and spokesperson, Chad is a role model to many young people in South Africa.

What many people do not know is that Le Clos outshined Phelps in the 2012 Summer Olympics. Phelps is the best male swimmer in the world and the most medalist in the history of the Olympics.

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