Shift Happens with Richard Sutton | Chad le Clos on Pressure, Reinvention and Life Beyond the Pool
12 June 2026
South Africa’s most decorated Olympian. An Olympic gold medallist. One of the most successful swimmers in Commonwealth Games history. One of the greatest short-course swimmers the sport has ever seen. And the man who famously stunned the world by beating Michael Phelps.
But beyond the medals, records, and headlines, this is a different side of Chad le Clos.
In this episode, he opens up about pressure, resilience, reinvention, and the quiet shifts that shape who we become. As he prepares for his fifth Olympic Games, Chad reflects on the highs, the setbacks, the expectations, and why he still feels there is more to come.
This is a conversation about more than swimming. It’s about identity, legacy, and what life looks like outside the pool, as Chad shares how he’s helping shape the future of South African swimming and inspire the next generation.
◼︎About Shift Happens:
Shift Happens with Richard Sutton is a podcast about transformation, resilience, performance, and becoming the best version of yourself.
Through honest conversations with remarkable people, we explore what happens when life applies pressure, when circumstances change, and when adversity forces a shift. These are stories about growth, reinvention, and the lessons hidden inside life’s most defining moments.
◼︎About Richard Sutton:
Richard Sutton is the founder and CEO of SuttonHealth, founder of The Performance Code, and a globally recognised expert in stress management, resilience, and human performance.
He is the author of The Stress Code, Stressproof – The Game Plan, and Shift Happens. For more than 25 years, Richard has worked with leaders, athletes, organisations, and healthcare professionals to help people thrive under pressure and unlock their full potential.
◼︎Learn more:
SuttonHealth: https://suttonhealth.co.za/
FirstLight Healthcare: https://www.firstlight.healthcare/
◼︎Buy Richard Sutton’s latest book, Shift Happens:
https://www.panmacmillan.co.za/authors/richard-sutton/shift-happens/9781770109773
◼︎Follow Richard
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realrichardsutton/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-sutton-05913637/
