Chad le Clos reveals that his apartment in Sea Point, Cape Town was destroyed by a fatal fire just a night after he made history at the Commonwealth Games. The swimmer became the most decorated athlete in the event's history by winning his 21st medal, surpassing Emma McKeon of Australia. This achievement came as South Africa secured a bronze in the men's 4x100m medley relay.

In addition to this latest accolade, the 34-year-old swimmer had also clinched a silver in the mixed 4x100 medley and a bronze in the men's 4x100 freestyle relays earlier in the Games.

Tragically, on July 30, a fire broke out in his apartment block, quickly engulfing his home of over a decade. Le Clos shared his heartbreak on Instagram, stating, "It has taken me a while to process this heartbreaking tragedy." He mourned the loss of a 93-year-old neighbor who perished in the fire, extending his deepest condolences to the victim's family.

He emphasized the strong sense of community, saying, "To my fellow neighbors whose homes and lives have been severely affected by this fire, please know that you are not alone."

In response to the disaster, Le Clos has initiated a fundraising campaign to assist those impacted by the blaze. The swimmer, who famously defeated Michael Phelps to win gold in the 200m butterfly at the 2012 London Olympics, has a remarkable record of seven Commonwealth golds, five silvers, and nine bronzes over his illustrious career, which also includes four Olympic medals and 16 world titles.