SWIMMING: Teenage sensation Kyle Chalmers announced himself as the new star of Australian swimming when he stormed home to win the Rio 100 metres freestyle final.
After agonisingly narrow losses in the previous two Olympic men's 100m finals, firstly for Eamon Sullivan in Beijing and then James Magnussen in London, Chalmers came from nowhere to finally snatch the coveted crown, becoming the first Aussie male to do so since Michael Wenden in Mexico City in 1968.
The 18-year-old South Australian touched seventh in the field of eight at the halfway mark before unleashing a barnstorming finish to become Australia’s youngest Olympic swimming champion since Ian Thorpe in 2000.
Chalmers swam a huge personal best to break his own world junior record in a time of 47.58 seconds, ahead of silver medallist Pieter Timmers of Belgium (47.80) and bronze medallist, America’s defending champion Nathan Adrian (47.85).
The new champion’s teammate and room mate Cameron McEvoy, who was strongly fancied as comfortably the fastest swimmer in the world this year, was fourth at the turn but faded to finish seventh in a time of 48.12 seconds.
“I have mixed emotions. He is one of my great mates, and it’s hard winning with him not swimming at his best,” Chalmers said.
Chalmers knew he had a lot of work to do when he saw Canadian Santo Condorelli turn a body length in front of him.
“I knew I had done so much training that I could push myself over the last 15 metres. I love the sting. I didn’t have any more to give,” he said.
“I had the mental belief and the mental courage to control my first 50, and work that back end.”
Chalmers glided to the wall, and thought at the time that might have cost him the race. Fortunately he was wrong.
The son of an AFL footballer, and a promising footy player himself, Chalmers opted last year to concentrate on swimming.
“This proves I chose the right sport,” he said. “This would have been my draft year for footy and that has been playing in the back of my mind.”
Chalmers said he enjoyed being the underdog, a role that allowed him to avoid the sort of pressure that McEvoy had been under.
“I have been able to fly under the radar, and talk with my mates on social media. I had no expectations on myself, and was just hoping to make the final.”
Ian Thorpe wrote him a letter before the Games as part of a program in which previous Olympians tried to stress the traditional Aussie values of pride and respect for what had gone before them.
“He is someone I have looked up to my whole life. He gave me some great advice to take everything in and enjoy every second of it,” he said.
Chalmers also revealed the part that American basketball star Kevin Durant played in his success, saying he watches one of Durant’s MVP speeches and a Durant highlights reel before every race.
And who should he come across before his semi-final last night but Durant?
Australia’s swim team manager got Durant to appear in a brief video saying he watched Chalmers swim and wished him luck.
“He showed me the video this morning because any later and he knew I wouldn’t be able to focus on my race,” said Chalmers.
“I was that excited (to see Durant). To be honest I almost vomited.”
McEvoy was gracious in defeat, saying he didn’t feel great in the warmup or the race “but that’s sport”.
“It is baffling to me, especially with my analytical mind,” said the physics student. “Hopefully I can pinpoint what went wrong.”
McEvoy had nothing but praise for his room mate, saying: “He’s got everything going for him. He’s a great kid and a great personality.
“The rest of Australia can get excited over an 18-year-old at the start of a career.
“He’s got the world at is feet right now.”
Doug Conway
olympics.com.au
