Chad Le Clos,
Olympic swimmer Chad Le Clos is a South African star. He was successful at the Olympic Games, the World Championships, and the Commonwealth Games. Unfortunately, his public rivalry with American swimming champion Michael Phelps often overshadows his glittering record. Following Chad’s victory over him in the 200-meter butterfly at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, the American athlete chose to come out of retirement and compete in the 2016 Rio Games. However, they were both defeated by the Hungarian’s Tamas Kenderesi. He is still competing at a high level and has more Olympic medals than any other South African swimmer.
Peggy Fleming
Skating with her sisters is where Peggy Fleming’s love for the sport began, but it was her father who really sparked her interest. By the time she was nine years old, she had learned the fundamentals of figure skating. She switched trainers after the 1961 plane crash that killed the entire U.S. figure skating team on their way to the World Championships. Fleming was able to garner a lot of notice thanks to her unique skating technique. This aided her in winning three world championships, and with more preparation, she went on to win gold at the 1968 Olympics in Grenoble. Although it was the only gold the United States brought home, it was a symbol of the country’s rise to prominence once again in the sport of figure skating. For nearly two decades, she has been a commentator for the Winter Olympic Games, the sport to which she has devoted her life.