Our Swim Academy Learn to Swim program is STA approved and endorsed by Chad Le Clos, so you know you’re setting yourself up for success. Our coaches can take you from the first time dipping your toes into the water, to confident and capable swimmer.
Our Competitive Swim Academy is where you level-up your swimming game, helping you dive into the competitive swim arena, or take on your next triathlon. Our competitive swimming programs have been developed by Chad Le Clos and are delivered by some of the best coaches in South Africa.
Virgin Active has the biggest estate of safe, temperature controlled, indoor pools in South Africa – over 100 pools, over 50 Learn to Swim pools, and a growing number of Chad Le Clos Competitive Academy pools.
We’ll help you find the right Swim Academy level, swim coach and pool for you. Check out the Virgin Active Chad Le Clos Academy Swim journey to get an idea of where you want to get started.
| Squad Level | Description | Typical Age Range |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1A / 1B | Entry-level gala or fitness swimmers. Training focuses on skill development, endurance, and confidence in the lap pool. Two identical groups are offered to provide flexibility in training days. |
7–12 |
| Level 2 | Intermediate gala swimmers starting structured, year-round training and early competition preparation. | 10–18 |
| Level 3 | Advanced gala swimmers who train routinely and compete consistently throughout the year. | 10–18 |
| Elite Squad | High-performance athletes competing at SA Junior Nationals and/or SA Nationals. Training is intensive and individually structured. | 15–35 |
| Adult Squad A / B | Recreational and fitness swimmers, including triathletes and open-water participants. Two identical groups are offered for flexible scheduling. | 18+ |
The Virgin Active Chad Le Clos Swim Academy is an exciting collaboration between Virgin Active and Olympic gold medallist Chad Le Clos.
It introduces structured, competitive swim squads into Virgin Active clubs, creating a natural next step for swimmers who’ve mastered the basics and want to develop their fitness, technique, and speed.
Drawing on Chad’s world-class experience, he and his coaching team will work closely with Virgin Active to strengthen and enhance our existing Learn to Swim programme, ensuring every swimmer, from beginner to elite, can thrive.
For the first time, Virgin Active clubs will offer competitive training programmes designed and guided by Chad Le Clos. This new layer of our swimming pathway helps members advance from foundational swimming and recreational swimming to performance-level training, all within the same trusted environment.
Swimmers can now progress seamlessly through every stage of their journey, from Learn to Swim to competitive squads, all under the Virgin Active brand, supported by world-class coaching and a vibrant swim community.
The competitive squads are designed for swimmers who are already comfortable in the water and ready to take on structured, performance-driven training.
If a swimmer still needs to master the basics, our Learn to Swim programme remains the ideal starting point before progressing to a squad environment.
The Academy offers progressive squad levels to suit different abilities and goals. Placement depends on the swimmer’s skill level rather than age, though age ranges are provided as a guideline.
| Squad Level | Description | Typical Age Range |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1A / 1B | Entry-level gala or fitness swimmers. Training focuses on skill development, endurance, and confidence in the lap pool. Two identical groups are offered to provide flexibility in training days. |
7–12 |
| Level 2 | Intermediate gala swimmers starting structured, year-round training and early competition preparation. | 10–18 |
| Level 3 | Advanced gala swimmers who train routinely and compete consistently throughout the year. | 10–18 |
| Elite Squad | High-performance athletes competing at SA Junior Nationals and/or SA Nationals. Training is intensive and individually structured. | 15–35 |
| Adult Squad A / B | Recreational and fitness swimmers, including triathletes and open-water participants. Two identical groups are offered for flexible scheduling. | 18+ |
Each squad has set training times and clear goals, with expert guidance from qualified coaches.
The first clubs to introduce the Virgin Active Chad Le Clos Swim Academy’s competitive squads will be Point and Claremont.
Each participating club will have a dedicated Head Coach aligned with the Academy’s coaching philosophy.
These coaches bring deep experience in competitive swimming, athlete development, and nurturing swimmers to reach their personal best.
Absolutely. Chad will be directly involved in shaping the Academy’s training philosophy, mentoring coaches, and engaging with swimmers through select events, clinics, and appearances.
He continues to train and compete at the highest level and will train at Virgin Active clubs offering the Academy.
Non-members can join the Academy for one month before needing to become Virgin Active members.
After that, continued training will require an active Virgin Active membership. Non-member rates may vary by club.
Schedules vary by club and squad level.
Development squads (like Level 1) may train twice a week, while higher-level squads will have more frequent sessions. Your club will share full training schedules and pricing details once you’re ready to join.
Yes. Swimmers will compete under the Virgin Active Chad Le Clos Swim Academy name, representing both Virgin Active and Chad’s legacy, building a strong community of athletes across our clubs nationwide.
Yes. Our coaches offer private and semi-private training for swimmers looking for a more individualised training experience.
No. The pricing will vary on a club-by-club basis.
After discussing your swimming experience with the head coach at your selected club, the coach will arrange an assessment session in the squad they consider most appropriate. Following your participation in that session, and based on the coach’s assessment of your ability, you will be recommended for placement in the squad best suited to your level.
If the recommended squad does not fit your schedule or does not align with your training goals, you can discuss this with the head coach. The coach will review your assessment, consider your availability and objectives, and determine whether an alternative squad is suitable and has space available.
No. Participation in any competitive swimming events is completely up to each swimmer.
Technique training is a priority and a non-negotiable at the Chad Le Clos Academy. It is integrated into our specialised programme to ensure a well-rounded approach to each swimmer’s development.
The academy’s primary focus is to nurture and develop swimmers through their early stages, ensuring that their passion for the sport is sustained. When swimmers are ready to progress and take their training more seriously, we support and guide that transition as well.
Chad Le Clos upholds strict coaching standards and personally selects coaches with proven track records, prioritising those who have competitive swimming experience and a deep understanding of the sport.ß
