Olympic swimming champ Le Clos says both parents have cancer

FILE - In this Saturday July 26, 2014 file photo, Chad le Clos of South Africa competes to win the Men's 200m butterfly swimming at the Tollcross International Swimming Centre during the Commonwealth Games 2014 in Glasgow, Scotland. South African Olympic swimming champion Chad le Clos, who beat Michael Phelps at the 2012 London Games, says Monday July 11, 2016, both his parents are fighting cancer. Le Clos says he still plans to compete at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics next month, and is "training hard." (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File) FILE - In this Saturday July 26, 2014 file photo, Chad le Clos of South Africa competes to win the Men's 200m butterfly swimming at the Tollcross International Swimming Centre during the Commonwealth Games 2014 in Glasgow, Scotland. South African Olympic swimming champion Chad le Clos, who beat Michael Phelps at the 2012 London Games, says Monday July 11, 2016, both his parents are fighting cancer. Le Clos says he still plans to compete at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics next month, and is "training hard." (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)

By Associated Press July 11, 2016 2 min read

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.”