South African Olympic swimming champion Chad le Clos, who beat Michael Phelps in one of the upsets of the 2012 London Games, announced Monday that both his parents are fighting cancer.
Le Clos said in a statement that his father Bert, who himself became a global celebrity for his exuberant celebrations and animated interviews in London, has prostate cancer and underwent surgery last month.
His mother Geraldine has breast cancer, had a double mastectomy, and is undergoing chemotherapy, Le Clos said.
Le Clos’ mother had been in remission since 2010, but the cancer had returned, Le Clos said.
“It has not been an easy time but I am training hard for Rio,” Le Clos said in his brief statement . “More than anything else I want them to win their battles. I also hope that they will be in Rio.”
Le Clos asked for privacy for his family and said he would not be doing any interviews ahead of the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, which open on Aug. 5.
Read ABC News
