Camps Bay High School was honoured to host Olympic gold medallist Chad le Clos as part of a special visit linked to the launch and expansion of the Virgin Active Chad Le Clos Swim Academy, in partnership with Virgin Active. The visit formed part of Le Clos’ national drive to grow swimming in South Africa through the academy, which is rapidly expanding across the country with training hubs in Cape Town (The Point, Claremont, Constantia and Century City), as well as programmes in Johannesburg and Durban. The academy focuses on developing swimmers from beginner level through to elite performance pathways, offering structured coaching, technique development, strength and conditioning, and competitive preparation.

Le Clos, a four-time Olympic medallist and one of South Africa’s most decorated athletes, is best known for his breakthrough gold medal in the 200m butterfly at the London 2012 Olympic Games, where he famously defeated Michael Phelps. His career also includes multiple World Championship titles and Commonwealth Games medals, establishing him as one of the leading swimmers of his generation.

Speaking to learners during a lively and highly engaging Q&A session,

Le Clos reflected on that iconic 2012 moment with humour and honesty, drawing laughter as he recalled the mindset going into the race. He explained that while the outside world placed enormous pressure on his opponent, he himself arrived with a different perspective as a young, relatively unknown athlete at Olympic level: “I think the pressure was more on Phelps going into London… I was young, I didn’t really know what I had to lose, and that actually helped me.”

He added that this sense of freedom played a major role in his performance: “There were probably only a handful of people who genuinely believed I could win – my dad, my coach, and myself.”

Le Clos went on to reflect on the period following his Olympic success, describing it as the most challenging phase of his career: “From 2012 to 2016 was probably the most stressful time of my life – suddenly there was expectation everywhere.”

Despite this, he emphasised the importance of preparation and mindset in handling pressure: “If you know you’ve done the work, you feel less stressed. We’re always going to have nerves – it’s about letting the butterflies fly.”

A consistent theme throughout his talk was resilience and discipline: “Never give up. Always fight to finish your best. Conditions are the same for everyone –  no excuses.”

He also shared what continues to drive him today, revealing a long-term goal that still motivates his training: “My goal is to be the first South African to compete at five Olympic Games – that’s what keeps me going. I still love the chase.”

Le Clos spoke openly about his early sporting journey, noting that soccer was originally his first passion before swimming became his path. On balancing academics and elite sport, he described himself as an average student who still achieved three distinctions in matric despite missing significant school time due to international competition: “I made friends with people who were a bit smarter than me and got them to help tutor me — that made a big difference.”

He encouraged learners to focus on their own growth rather than comparison, particularly in the age of social media:“Don’t look sideways at what others have. Focus on your own journey and lift people up.”

Le Clos also reflected on legacy and purpose beyond medals:“How I want to be remembered is someone who gave back to the next generation – not just for results, but for helping others get to the Olympics one day.”

Camps Bay High School Head of Sport, Busi Ngcwama, said the visit left a lasting impression on learners: “Chad spoke with honesty, humility and humour. Our learners were able to connect with him because he made elite sport feel human and achievable. His message about discipline, mindset and perseverance will stay with them for a long time.”

She added that the atmosphere at the end of the visit reflected the impact he had on the school community: “The enthusiasm at the end of the session said it all – learners lined up for autographs and photographs, with Chad signing blazers, shirts, swimming caps and more. It was a truly memorable moment for our school community.”

Camps Bay High School extends its sincere thanks to Chad le Clos and the Virgin Active Chad Le Clos Swim Academy for an inspiring visit that formed part of an exciting new chapter in the development of swimming in South Africa.