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.