When South Africa’s Olympic team returned victorious in August, one lucky student also got her wish: a date to her Matric Dance. Glenvista High School student Melanie Olhaus, using a poster, asked Gold medallist Chad Le Clos to join her to the dance – an offer he accepted. And this past Saturday South Africa’s golden boy made good on his promise, escorting the 17-year old beauty to the event.

Le Clos had previously said he was excited about the dance, since he couldn’t fully enjoy his own due to swimming engagements. Several hours before the event he was already sending out excited Twitter messages, saying “Just finished getting ready for matric dance, very amped! Will post pics later through night!” and later posted a sneak peak of Melanie in her stunning dress, designed by Gert-Johan Coetzee. (Image above)

But Chad wasn’t just there to keep up appearances. Arriving at the Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg, he carried his date out of the car before setting her down on the red carpet. Le Clos even attended both after-parties, wrote the Independent Online, first taking Melanie to popular club H2O and then LIVE.

“He came with me to the after parties. We first went to H20 because we had VIP tickets. We then went to LIVE where all my schoolmates were. He really did enjoy it. We didn’t get to dance at all because everyone wanted pictures,” Olhaus told IOL. She added that he was a good dancer, but she didn’t really get to join her friends on the floor until he left at 1am.

“It was amazing. I felt like a princess,” Melanie said on Sunday.

Le Clos was apparently flooded in London by women requesting his company at their dances. But he said he would accept the first made to him in person, a promise he kept with Olhaus. Chad is currently in Dubai, competing in the FINA/ARENA World Cup.

By James Francis