Olympic swimming: Chad le Clos primed for Paris after treading ‘dark path’

Le Clos is hoping to improve on his performances in Toyko, where he finished fifth in the 200m butterfly and failed to reach the semi-finals of the 100m.

“It was actually a very successful Games considering what I went through,” he explained.

“The truth is Toyko was really difficult because Covid derailed me. I went on a darker path and without being with my team for nine, 10 months.

“A couple things happened outside the pool which changed the path of my life, to the negative. It took me a while to get myself out of that – almost two years – to get back to where Chad was supposed to be, mentally.”

Le Clos, who won his first global titles in 2010, first spoke of his mental struggles in 2022 after clinching a record-equalling 18th medal at the Commonwealth Games.

It took professional support, including psychology sessions, to “rebuild” himself.

“Life is a lot harder now than it was 12 years ago,” he said.

“There was no expectation – the problems come when you realise what’s really on the line, in some respects.

“I swam for my family, my coach and my country. And then Rio (2016) came along and I got pulled in 100 directions [with] sponsors and pressure from the country.

“I think I’m trying to bring myself back to that youngster that was just happy and grateful to be there, to be in the arena. Racing the best in the world is what I truly love.”

It is fair to ask, then, whether competing at these Olympics in Paris was ever in doubt.

“No, never,” he replied.

“Even in my darkest moments, there was always a flicker of light. There were always moments where I believed that it was going to be ok.

“Finally, when I came out of this depression, I was swimming like I was in the past, and life became better in every sense.”