Kyle Chalmers blitzed the field in the 100m freestyle final at the Australian Swimming Championships on Thursday evening before declaring he’s in the best mental space since his Olympic triumph in 2016.
On the final evening of competition on the Gold Coast, Australian swimming’s biggest male drawcard stepped up on unfamiliar blocks in lane two after a slow heat time.
Chalmers led at the halfway mark before clocking an even 48-second swim, well ahead of Kai Taylor (48.41s) and Flynn Southam (48.53s). Chalmers’ personal best is 47.08s.
“That was good,” Chalmers said. “I never expect too much at this time of year. It’s all about the race more so than the time. [The heat time] this morning was probably a shock.
“I’m in a massive heavy [training] block at the moment. Racing is the best training. This year having trials and the worlds will be a whole lot quieter.”
This week on the Gold Coast holds little significance for Chalmers, whose only objective is swimming fast at the Australian trials in June ahead of the World Aquatics Championships in July.
Kyle Chalmers at the Australian Swimming Championships. Credit: Getty
Chalmers has Olympic and Commonwealth Games gold medals in the 100m freestyle but is yet to prevail in his pet event at the world championships. He’s feeling fresh and rejuvenated.
“The body is the best it’s been since probably 2020,” Chalmers said. “That was when I had my shoulder problems.
“My mind is also probably the best … since 2016. I feel the happiest I have in and out of the pool. I’m loving training and life. I’m very grateful for that.
“I’m loving life. I’m labouring on a building site a couple of days a week. I bought a fishing boat. I reconnected with a lot of mates who I really pushed aside to focus on swimming. It’s making my results a lot better.”
Chalmers’ labouring buddy, Australian teammate Matt Temple, was quizzed on his friendship with Chalmers after registering another win this week in the 200m butterfly.
“I think he’s better standing there with the sunnies and hard-hat on over me,” Temple said.
“I love the bloke. We have our afternoons off on Tuesday and Thursday. Lately we’ve been on a building site.”
Chalmers was brilliant at the World Shortcourse Championships in Melbourne, where he picked up seven medals, including three golds.
Kyle Chalmers shows off his gold medal after the men’s 100m freestyle final at the World Shortcourse Championships in Melbourne.Credit: Getty
The 24-year swam in the heats of the 200m freestyle this week but withdrew from the final.
It’s been seven years since Chalmers stormed home to gold in the 100m freestyle at the Rio Olympics.
His quest five years later for back-to-back glory at the Tokyo Games came up just short as Caeleb Dressel touched the wall 0.06 seconds in front of the South Australian.
By Paris 2024, Chalmers will be one of Australia’s biggest individual gold medal hopes.
Meanwhile, Ariarne Titmus fell short in her quest for a third national title this week as Mollie O’Callaghan pipped her training partner in the women’s 200m freestyle.
O’Callaghan (1:55.15s) edged out Titmus (1:55.28s), the reigning Olympic champion, to make it a double in the 100-200 freestyle.
“Coming into this meet I was quite nervous,” O’Callaghan said. “There’s been a lot of ups and downs. I’ve put a lot of pressure on myself to be better than last year. We haven’t really been rested coming into this. This is a big confidence-booster.”
These championships have been difficult to get a read on swimmers, given most haven’t tapered their training. With eight weeks to go until trials in Melbourne, the real hard work is about to begin.
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