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Champion Perspectives – Chad le Clos

“There are many ways of thinking about how I won that gold, and when I watch that race, even now… I also shed a tear thinking about what went into that race and what it meant to me.” – Chad le Clos

For many South Africans, the first time Chad le Clos appeared on Being Disciplined our radar was when he took home an impressive five medals at the inaugural Youth in Singapore in 2010. This As you read his story, le Clos is continually updating you on his remarkable young athlete has continued to impress, winning gold efforts to close in on ’s time, and the monumental in the 200m butterfly and 400m individual medleys, silver in the work involved in shaving seconds off his time. is a solitary 4x100m medley and a bronze medal in the 4x100m freestyle at the sport and the loneliness has prevented many good swimmers 2010 . At the FINA (International Swimming becoming great ones. That is why it is critical to surround oneself Federation) World Championships that same year, he claimed gold with the very best coaches and mentors. It is also about maintaining in the 200m butterfly event.A t the same championship in 2012 personal discipline and working continuously to improve with each he dominated the 100m butterfly and took home the silver for the lap. 50m butterfly. It was at the London 2012 Olympic Games that le It’s easy to forget that life carries on while you’re aiming for Clos made history when he beat his hero and inspiration, Michael greatness. For le Clos, who had just two weeks to prepare for his Phelps, winning the gold in the 200m butterfly. He also secured the matric finals after returning from the , silver medal in the 100m butterfly event.A year later he claimed it all boils down to discipline. He admits that it does not take him the world championship title in the 200m and 100m butterfly long to learn new things, but that when it is time for learning, he events at the 15th FINA World Championships in Barcelona. He learns; when it’s time for work he works and when it’s time to play had prolific success during the FINA Swimming World Cup series he plays. He remains resolutely focused on the task at hand in order too, winning 24 gold, eight silver and three bronze medals. to achieve his successes. “It is just about getting faster each year and the most important During his exams he methodically broke down the papers into thirds thing is that I keep on dominating the events that I dominate and and watched the time carefully, employing the same strategies he extending on other events like the freestyle and the individual uses in training. His dedication paid off as he graduated with three medley races,” le Clos said after being crowned the best swimmer As, again showing us how he prefers to finish strongly in all aspects at the World Cup series at the end of 2013. of his life. Success rarely happens overnight, particularly for the sporting It’s difficult to comprehend the incredible distances swum by elite who seem to make their wins look effortless. With the release professional swimmers in the pool every day. In his book, le Clos lays of his biography Unbelieveable!, written with Myan Subrayan, le out his daily routine and discusses how important it is to set your Clos gives his readers the opportunity to gain further insights into objectives and to constantly work towards achieving them. His father, the challenging and gruelling world of competitive swimming. He Bert, understood his drive and determination and was supportive of shares his highs and lows, the physical extremes that he must go his son’s quest to be the best, often waiting patiently while le Clos through on a daily basis in order to keep getting faster, always finished his sessions and then still practised his underwaters (the remaining focused on the tasks at hand in order to achieve his time that you are allowed to use dolphin or butterfly kicks below the long-term goals. surface after you have propelled off the wall). runoRosa / S hutterstock.com © B runoRosa P hotos: 120 I who hisheroes are andwhatmakes themso specialinhiseyes, that Chaddiscusses inhisrecently released biography. Heshares Understanding your impact onothers as acelebrity issomething example by Leading rest. attitude that isrevealed during training thatsets him apart from the him, you have to beat himtonight.” Hillbelieves itisleClos’ positive to race MichaelPhelps inthe200m butterfly. If you want to beat the to thecall rooms to prepare for thestart of the200m butterfly at him to winbefore each race. Hill’s last words to himbefore hewent honesty between themasHillinforms leClos whatitwilltake for clearly holdsleClos’ admiration and respect. to him, andatough disciplinarian whopushes himto thelimit. He throughout thebook. Hedescribes Hillasbeinglike asecond father The close relationship between le Clos andhiscoach isalso evident attitude’, asmy coach Graham Hilllater putit, started to bloom.” my desire to play sportwithpassion. and atevery match, “I thinkthisintervention was crucial:itignited soccer practice untilhelearned to give ithisallatevery practice time whenhewas upset whenhisfather refused to take himto a he does withheart andto never back down. L He credits hisfather withteaching himto approach everything

South Afric L ondon 2012 Games were, “This is the last time you will ever get a Deluxe I This was whenmy ‘winning

Motor &Sport There isano-nonsense e Clos recalls a s in 2012 andlater runninginto himagain atD with you.” Herecalls meetingBismarck duPlessis for thefirst time you, butmore aboutthefact they have taken thetimeto engage how you are, that’s good enough. It’s notaboutwhatthey say to “When your hero, orsomeone you lookupto, talks to you orasks sharing how hedrew strength from her strength andhow hewas He spoke candidly abouthismotherandherbattle withcancer, journey to triumphthatwas most inspiring. the courage anddiscipline thatL form an idea of where their passions mightlie. However, for me, itis wonderfully inspirational, particularly for youngsters just starting to prepared to make sacrifices in order to achieve them, are The lessons abouthaving adream andworking hard, andbeing schedule thatprepares himfor each race. him centred andmentally fitenough to tackle thedauntingphysical le Clos, itishisfamily, long-time friendsandhiscoach whokeep rising stars whose fame andsuccess seem to come overnight. For is screaming your namefrom the grandstands, particularly for young strangers. Itcan bedifficult to keep grounded whenthewhole world humble andcares aboutthose around him, aswell ascomplete belief system andstems from theway hewas brought up. Heisstill Having respect for your fans isjust anextension of leClos’ personal the experience withhisdadover thephone. moment thatmadeanimpact onleClos andheimmediately shared remembered whohewas andcame over to talk to him. Itwas a e Clos maintained throughout his ubai Airport. D u Plessis

Photos: © Omega, © BrunoRosa / Shutterstock.com things. Olympic Games where heisbound to continue to accomplish great closely and look forward to upcoming FINA athletes.Like and hisincredible experience withthenext generation of young give O as theNanjing2014 brand. In his constant striving to be the best aligns well with the luxury Games inSingapore in2010, where hecollected five medals, and a strong impression onO L E is also championingadifferent cause asarhinoambassador for addition to hisambassadorship atCANSA, thisproud S mother received the ‘all clear’ from herdoctors inMarch 2011. In part of global Breast Cancer was launchedinconjunction withoneof hissponsors, mother and other cancer sufferers. he swam inapinkcap andswimsuit asatoken of supportfor his profit organisation. in addition, hehasdedicated aportionof hisearnings to thenon- wanting to give back for the meaningful work the association does; mother’s fight with cancer, he became anambassador for inspired by herpositivity. e Clos also became anO zemveloKwaZulu- Natal Wildlife. mega’s young ambassador theopportunity to share advice

Lindsay Grubb A ugust 2013, itwas announced thatleClos was chosen O mega, we are following this S A Y t theStockholm legof the2011 World Cup outh OlympicGames ambassador. mega attheinaugural A mega ambassador in2011. Hemade A s aresult of his experience with his wareness MonthinO The S events and the Rio 2016 wim for outh A frican champion ctober 2011. His CANSA Y outh Olympic outh Arena, as This will CANSA, project A frican It is available at all good book stores.It is available book at all good ISBN: 9780143538653 Retail R Price: Recommended Publisher: Penguin Books leClos Chad withMyan SubrayanAuthor: Title: Unbelievable! 175 faces

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