JOHANNESBURG - Charlene a former Olympic swimmer who had represented South Africa at the 2000 Sydney Olympics in the 100 metre backstroke has made a donation to upgrade the public pool where Olympic gold medallist Chad Le Clos trains.

Funds from her Princess Charlene Foundation will become available for the upgrade at the Pinetown swimming pool just outside Durban where Le Clos trains with his coach Graham Hill.

The funds for the upgrade will be used for pool covers, starting blocks, gym equipment and heating for the pool.

Hill who coached Charlene for over seven years said she always wanted to help out and give back to the sport that she loved.

“Obviously she trained there and it has a special place in her heart,” he said.

Charlene visited the pool last week to see for herself what was required for the upgrade at the pool and also spent time with Le Clos.

“She wanted to find out what I needed, and the current conditions at the pool. We don’t have proper starting blocks, gym facilities and heating in the pool,”  he said.

Hill said he was delighted by Charlene’s pledge.

“If all this comes together and if we get proper heating systems and gym facilities, who knows we might have six or seven swimmers like Chad Le Clos in the future,” he said.

Before the start of the Olympics Charlene and her husband, Prince Albert invited the SA swim team to a camp in the principality for their final-build up to the Games.

They were provided with training facilities and accommodation in Monaco.

The princess had been in London during the Games and watched Le Clos claim gold in the 200 metre butterfly event in which he beat Olympic legend Michael Phelps by a whisker.

Later she joined the Le Clos family for the medal ceremony, sharing hugs and tears with Le Clos’s parents as the South African national anthem played out across the pool.

Le Clos said he was overwhelmed by the support of the princess and looked forward to the upgrade of the facilities.