2024 PARIS SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES
- Pool Swimming: July 27 – August 4, 2024
- Open Water Swimming: August 8 – 9, 2024
- La Défense Arena — Paris, France
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- Prelims Live Recaps: Day 1
- Finals Live Recaps: Day 1
Kyle Chalmers has not had the easiest preparation for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
In December, the Australian underwent ankle surgery to repair three torn ligaments, an injury he suffered while playing Australian Rules Football (AFL) in September 2023. With less than 150 days to go until the start of the Games, he was forced to find a new training home after his coach Peter Bishop was stood down by the South Australia Institute of Sport and had his coaching accreditation revoked. Chalmers moved to Queensland to train with former Olympian Ashley Delaney.
Then, Chalmers dealt with the combination of illness and a back injury at the Australian Olympic Trials. He scratched the 100 butterfly because of those factors. “I tried to do a dive and it just all spasmed and locked up, Chalmers told Yahoo. “I saw physios and doctors and the best thing I could do was to get four cortisones in my lower back and try to get moving again.”
He scratched the 100 butterfly to focus on getting healthy for these Olympic Games, where he’s set to feature in the highly anticipated men’s 100 freestyle final. “I know that I can get it right in six weeks’ time (for the Olympics),” Chalmers said in the same interview with Yahoo. “I have put on a pretty brave face to be able to get through but it has definitely been quite challenging.”
Through the first Olympic finals session, it seems that Chalmers has gotten it right. He took his usual spot on Australia’s 4×100 freestyle relay and as we’ve seen him do so often, he pulled off some last-minute heroics. The squad was fourth at the final exchange, but Chalmers split a blistering 46.59, moving the Australians up two spots and onto the podium for the silver medal.
The relay split was the third-fastest of Chalmers’ career and the eighth-best all-time.
Top Eight Men’s 100 Freestyle Relay Splits (LCM)
- Jason Lezak, USA — 46.06 (2008)
- Duncan Scott, GBR — 46.14 (2019)
- Cesar Cielo, BRA — 46.22 (2009)
- Alain Bernard, FRA — 46.26 (2009)
- Kyle Chalmers, AUS — 46.44 (2021)
- Alain Bernard, FRA — 46.46 (2009)
- Kyle Chalmers, AUS — 46.56 (2023)
- Kyle Chalmers, AUS — 46.59 (2024)
The quartet of Jack Cartwright, Flynn Southam, Kai Taylor, and Chalmers combined for a final time of 3:10.35, just .13 seconds off Australia’s bronze-winning time from Tokyo. Chalmers is the only carry-over from that relay, but this is the same quartet that won gold at the 2023 World Championships (3:10.16).
Chalmers’ anchor leg is a strong sign for the rest of his meet. As the anchor leg, he did not directly face his main competition in the individual 100 freestyle. Pan Zhanle and Jack Alexy both led off their nation’s relay, with Pan notably posting a 46.92 to lead the field by a wide margin.
Nevertheless, the split and the medal will be a confidence boost for Chalmers. It shows he has arrived in Paris in strong form as he aims to get back on top of the Olympic podium in the 100 freestyle. He won gold in Rio as an 18-year-old and followed up with a silver medal in Tokyo. If he wins gold, he’ll be the fifth man to win two Olympic golds in the 100 freestyle.
Day 1 Quick Hits
- By helping the Australian women to gold in the women’s 4×100 freestyle relay, Emma McKeon becomes the Australian athlete with the most Olympic gold medals in history. This medal moves her one ahead of Ian Thorpe. After splitting 51.94 on the prelims relay, McKeon was 52.39 on the finals relay. She along with Mollie O’Callaghan, Shayna Jack, and Meg Harris set an Olympic record of 3:28.92 en route to Olympic gold. Additionally, McKeon is now tied with Jenny Thompson, Dara Torres, and Natalie Coughlin for 12 Olympic medals.
- Ariarne Titmus successfully defended her 400 freestyle gold medal from Tokyo, earning the win in 3:57.49. She stamped her authority on the race from the start, extending her international winning streak in the event. Titmus is just the second woman to win this event more than once as Martha Norelius from the United States achieved the feat with back-to-back wins in 1924 and 1928.
- Elijah Winnington and Sam Short went 2-4 in the men’s 400 freestyle. After being one of the favorites in this race for Tokyo, Winnington ended up 7th three years ago. He rebounded this year, first becoming the only repeat finalist from Tokyo and then claiming silver in this race. Winnington charged on the final 50 meters, splitting 27.33 to pass Kim Woo-Min for the silver medal with a final time of 3:42.28. Short put in a similar dig but ran out of room to catch Kim and took 4th in 3:42.64, .14 seconds off the podium.
Oceanian Medal Table
| Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| Australia | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
Chalmers is a walking disaster. I mean that in the nicest possible way. He needs to be wrapped in bubble wrap between major championships.
It really shows what an outlier that Lezak swim was
obvs drafted off dressel. ignore this run (if he was a racehorse). no chance of reproducing that without someone to draft off in the real race. lezak did the same in 08 and was battered in the individual
haha you aren’t getting a draft benefit off someone 3+ body lengths ahead. if anything it hurts you. great swim for Chalmers
Definitely a reliable swimmer…but such a drama queen!!! Always saying he’s injured yada yada, only to swim a ridiculously fast time.
He is always injured . Basically has had surgery or two every year since 2017. So there is that.
You can’t fake heart surgery.
Dressel was very fortunate his team gave him a massive lead.
As chalmers was almost full second faster.
I think you have to give Dressel a little credit for having a brain..”safe start…don’t over swim it”
That man is a stud
I had the same surgery (4 ligaments m) three weeks ago and they told me I can’t resume dynamic movements for close to 6 months !!
Chalmers looked really good, I think he’s gonna podium especially since Alexy seemed off.