On 31st July 2012 a young South African’s life changed forever as he beat his childhood hero to achieve his dream of winning Olympic Gold. No one thought he could do it but the 20-year-old pulled off the “unbelievable” and thrust himself and his larger-than-life father, Bert, into the spotlight. In August the eyes of the world will focus on the two greats again as they face off for the first time since London – Chad le Clos versus Michael Phelps at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
Following his Olympic success, Chad has become the new star of swimming, with world titles, world records and awards, cementing his place at the top of his sport and in the hearts of the public – the humble champion from Durban. Behind the scenes Chad has had to deal with new pressures in and out of the pool, unreported personal struggles and the media backlash that comes with taking on the most successful Olympian of all time.
Unbelievable: The Chad le Clos Story begins in Durban in March 2015 with just 500 days to go until the Rio Olympics. His journey takes him around the world, pursuing his dream. With him through it all are Dad Bert, who the world fell in love with after his outpouring of emotion at London 2012; and Mum Geraldine, the family rock.
A OneToWatch production, Unbelievable has been directed by Sir Matthew Pinsent, himself a four time Olympic Gold medallist and BBC broadcaster. More recently the driving force behind the BBC’s Olympic Dreams series, Matthew has captured the highs, lows and everything in between as Chad chases his dream to Rio de Janeiro.
“Unbelievable: The Chad le Clos Story” will air on SuperSport in Africa, Eurosport in Europe, and on Chad’s official website on 24 and 25 July 2016.
Chad le Clos commented “It has been a real privilege to welcome Matthew into our lives and to have him with us on our journey to the Games. As viewers will see, this has been in many ways the toughest time of my and my family’s lives. The public will get a very honest portrayal of my story and the build up to the biggest week of my life in Rio this summer.”
Sir Matthew Pinsent commented “When I started this project, I only knew about a talented athlete and his larger-than-life father. What I have learned about this family, their resilience, the reality of coming from South Africa, and the power of sport has been very special for me.”
Swimming News release is courtesy of Prof Sports.
Not taking anything away from his amazing fest but…c’mon, the guy was lucky as all get out. It was like Nestynouttouching Biondi at Seoul. A fluke. Rio will be a different story, guarandamnteed!
Where have you been, Bill???? You’ve seen it all in this sport and I am thrilled to see you posting.
Chad is humble and will win in Rio
So he’s going by Chad “The Phelps Killer” LeClos now.
Even as a huge MP fan, if he was to lose the 200 I would be so glad to see Cseh get an individual gold.
If he has to lose the 200 fly ( I hope he doesnt, I hope he doesn’t!), then it would be fitting for Cseh to get the Gold :D. Funny, he hasn’t won an olympic gold period. Silvers and bronzes, but never Gold. He should have focused on back than fly :). He had a better chance to gold medalize.
Jack Conger is to college swimming what Laszlo Cseh is to world swimming. Both among the most dominant of all time on that particular scene; neither have won individual gold.
Literally
Conger and Cseh are amazing swimmers. I could see them ending up in the top 10 of all time eventually.
How can you be dominant and have never won an individual gold medal? Both very good swimmers. Is OKC Thunder dominant in the NBA? No, just a very good team that’s never won the title.
Cseh will win the 200, Le Clos the 100 fly. Phelps will have to be happy with only 1 gold – 200IM
That is how I see as well, Phelps still walks away with 3 golds, 4×200 & 4x100med relays. I don’t think he has the pace to go with Le Clos & Cseh, but Phelps has proved me wrong many times.
An amazing return for someone who came out of retirement or a poor return for the GOAT??? Let’s revel one more time his olympic record. 5 Olympics
2000, 15 year old, came 5th
2004, 6 golds, 2 bronze
2008, 8 golds
2012 4 golds 2 silvers.
2016 ????
Just think trivia question, who are only swimmers to have beaten Phelps in individual event at the olympics;… Read more »
Le Clos by 500th of a second
He was 4th in the 400 IM, so you add the three people that beat him Locthe, Pereira and Hagino
My apologies there!!!! My trivia question now gone!!!!
Still for how many events he has swam at the highest level, not many people have ever beaten him.
Wonder whos gonna beat MP’s 1:52.0 textile from 07. I think it has become lost on people just how ridiculously fast that was and is. Didnt he break his world record by over a second in that race?
1.71 seconds. Over a body length.
I think he could. Cseh is a possibility. But you gotta root for Phelps. Even if Cseh deserves a gold. I fo anyway.
I’d like Cseh to get the gold, he deserves and Phelps has more than enough. He can get his golds in his other two events, Cseh for the win in the 200.
What we like, and what the happens are not the same. But I will say this, Phelps always preforms well at the olympics. And that 1:52.9 from last year is a huge threat to Cseh, both will be extremely motivated to win. The question is, who will win? Well, we will have to wait a month.
Yeah just looked it up and that 1:53.7 was from an in season meet I think it was a grand prix if Im not mistaken. Watched a video of it and its just crazy.
I think it was grand prix.
Since when is le Clos a humble champion…
I just wish there was a TV special for Lazlo Cseh