Chad Le Clos looks to inspire future generation of swimmers [Video]
Olympic swimming legend, Chad Le Clos, shared nuggets of wisdom with school swimmers during his visit to Jabulani.
SOUTH African swimming legend, Chad Le Clos, visited Jabulani – The Kingsburgh Welfare Organisation to chat with Amanzimtoti school swimming teams and their coaches.
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Three schools, including Athlone Park Primary, Amanzimtoti High and Warner Beach Preparatory Schools, were in attendance.
The fundraising event saw Le Clos provide wisdom, encouragement and invaluable advice to the young swimmers who dream of following in his footsteps, and breaststrokes. Both the children and the coaches were able to ask questions and gain clarity from South Africa’s most decorated Olympian.
Le Clos, having recently spent the last weekend at Midmar raising money for the kids and for charity, said that this time around, the objective was to fundraise for the elderly.
“It was an amazing day. I thought it was a great group – probably about a hundred children despite some of the schools being unable to attend. It was a very personalised session and I hope to have inspired the next generation. Swimming is tapering off a bit and it’s not like it was 10 years ago. I’m definitely active, though injured a bit and rehabilitating. My mission is to inspire the next child, the next swimmer to potentially go to the Olympics. I’d love to be a part of that and it’s one of the reasons I’m still around in the game.
The funds raised go towards upliftment projects within the home in order to keep improving the quality of life for the aged residents.
Jabulani’s Lesly Meyer said, “One of our regular sponsors for meals and necessities, Guy Young, and I spoke with Chad’s dad, Bert Le Clos, about my idea and he agreed. My objective was to get swimming teams from our local schools motivated and inspired to train hard and become Olympians. Our building maintenance is ongoing. We do not get support from government and all renovations, general maintenance and everything that needs repairing is done by fundraising.”
She added that while the space could not accommodate all the home’s residents and swimmers, a few did meet Chad and got pictures with him and he signed a few autographs.
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