'I am beyond proud of the human being that he is' – Geraldine, mom of Chad le Clos

Pippa Hudson interviews Geraldine le Clos, mother of South African swimmer Chad le Clos.

Listen below.

As Mother's Day draws nearer on 12 May, this week on Lunch with Pippa Hudson, they're doing something special.

Instead of chatting to a well-known South African figure, they're talking to their mothers who will share insights into parenting, reflecting on what they believe they got right and where they may have stumbled along the journey to their child's success.

Kicking off this series is none other than Geraldine le Clos, mother of South African swimming sensation, affectionately dubbed 'the human fish', Chad le Clos.

From an early age, Chad inherited his mother's passion for sports and competitive spirit, leading to remarkable achievements, albeit with sacrifices.

Geraldine fondly recalls the early mornings and late nights, the unwavering support, and the necessary sacrifices that paved the way for Chad to become one of South Africa's most celebrated Olympians.

At just four years old, Chad was already tearing up the soccer field, eventually transitioning to diving into swimming pools by first grade.

The rest, as they say, is history.

Geraldine humorously notes that she and her husband Bert made for the perfect team.

While Bert provided the human touch, occasionally allowing Chad to skip school for much-needed rest amidst his hectic schedule, Geraldine maintained a focus on discipline, both academically and athletically.

As he prepares for the 2024 Paris Olympics and edges closer to the conclusion of his illustrious swimming career, she acknowledges that securing gold will pose a formidable challenge.

Yet, she emphasises his unwavering commitment to leaving it all in the pool, giving his absolute best effort.

"He did all the sports in primary school."

- Geraldine le Clos

"He is such an amazing boy. He's got no ego about him, he's just so down to earth."

- Geraldine le Clos

"I am beyond proud of the human being that he is."

- Geraldine le Clos

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the interviews.