Kyle Chalmers Delivers With Monster 44.84 100 Free World Record

2021 FINA WORLD CUP STOP #4 – KAZAN

  • Thursday, October 28 – Saturday, October 30th
  • Kazan Aquatics Palace, Kazan, Russia
  • Prelims: 10 am local / 3 am ET
  • Finals: 6 pm local / 11 am ET
  • SCM (25m)
  • Results

Tonight it was mission accomplished for 23-year-old Kyle Chalmers, as the Australian pumped out a shiny new World Record in the men’s short course meters 100 freestyle.

While competing on day 2 of the final FINA World Cup stop in Kazan, multi-Olympic medalist Chalmers blasted a time of 44.84 to not only stand atop the podium here but also stand atop the list of fastest men ever in the event.

His time overtakes the previous storied World Record of 44.94, a time Frenchman Amaury Leveaux put on the books over a decade ago in 2008. Since then, many have come close, including Russia’s Vlad Morozov who hit 44.95 in 2018 but the record stood tall…until tonight.

Chalmers set the 100m free dominance stage early, having claimed the top seed of the morning in a time of 46.74. That was a relaxed swim from the South Aussie who established a new Australian national record and Oceanic continental record with a blistering 45.03 last week in Doha. That time checked in as the 3rd fastest performance in history.

After registering a new Aussie and Oceanic record in the 50m free yesterday here in Kazan, Chalmers publicly took aim at the 100m free World Record, with his PB standing less than .10 away entering this meet.

Split comparison below shows how Chalmers roared out in the front half, dropping jaws with a big-time 21.40 before clocking 23.44 on the 2nd 50.

Comparative Splits:

KYLE CHALMERS KYLE CHALMERS
AMAURY LEVEAUX
New World Record Previous Personal Best
Current World Record
50m 21.40 21.64 21.72
23.44 23.39 23.22
100m 44.84 45.03 44.94

Chalmers took the 100m freestyle Olympic gold medal in Rio 5 years ago at just 17 years of age, whereas he settled for silver at the 2020 Games in Tokyo behind American Caeleb Dressel.

It’s important to note that Chalmers has had a series of heart surgeries since Rio, all addressing his Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT). He also underwent shoulder surgery in November 2020.

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Tony
3 years ago

Well, well. He finally has ONE world record.

Dudeman
Reply to  Tony
3 years ago

Everyone would prefer an Olympic gold medal over a world record

Joel
Reply to  Tony
3 years ago

And a junior world record for years

Short Course Jeters
3 years ago

Its too bad he’ll be left off their SCM World Team

Sub13
Reply to  Short Course Jeters
3 years ago

Australia doesn’t have a team this year, but Kyle is travelling there and competing himself.

1000 breaststroke
3 years ago

wasn’t Kyle 18 in Rio?

Troyy
Reply to  1000 breaststroke
3 years ago

Yes, 18 by about a month.

IM FAN
3 years ago

I’m so happy for him to get his first WR. Taking down one of the (if not the?) oldest records on the books as well.

If he can have a long training cycle be uninterrupted I think he can put down some monstrous times

PFA
Reply to  IM FAN
3 years ago

Leveaux’s time was put up in December ‘08 and while it was still one of the oldest and few from 2008, that title goes to grant Hackett’s world record from July ‘08 2 weeks before the opening to Beijing in the 800 which is overall the oldest current world record on the books regardless of short course or long course.

Edit: Also hoping to see Kyle be done with all of the heart and shoulder surgeries as well he’s faced so much adversity over the past 4-5 years and for him to finally see it all pay off for him probably really means a lot to himself.

Last edited 3 years ago by PFA
Notanyswimmer
3 years ago

Best 100m freestylers in 2022:
1. Kyle Chalmers
2. David Popovici
3. Kliment Kolesnikov
4. Hwang Sunwoo
5. Caeleb Dressel

Wow
Reply to  Notanyswimmer
3 years ago

1. Caeleb Dressel
2. David Popovici
3. Hwang Sunwoo
4. Kliment Kolesnikov
5. Alessandro Miressi
6. Kyle Chalmers

Big mac #1
Reply to  Wow
3 years ago

Neither of you is right
1. C Dressel 46.83(if you see the dressel disect you can see where he can drop)
1. C Chalmers 46.83
3. Huang S 47.05
4. K kolesnikov 47.11
5. D Popovici 47.14
6. A Miressi 47.3
7. Z apple 47.5
Maybe minakov

Last edited 3 years ago by Lucas Caswell
Awsi Dooger
Reply to  Big mac #1
3 years ago

I like your version best. Too much Popovici projection around here. Bottom line 17 alongside bigger stronger guys. Everyone who picks him high should watch those Tokyo launches again. One wave was dwarfed

Robbos
Reply to  Big mac #1
3 years ago

That is a very fast final, you throw in potential improving swimmers, who could push for final.
Thomas Ceccon, Italy
Jacob Whittle from GB
Two Canadians Kisil & Liendo Edwards
Matthew Richards
A 2nd Aussie Temple or Southam
A Frenchman Grousset?

Philip Johnson
Reply to  Notanyswimmer
3 years ago

Mad disrespect to the Olympic champ from a few months ago..

Tiny hands
Reply to  Notanyswimmer
3 years ago

LMAO. Dressel has consistently been 47.1 or better in international competitions. Keep dreaming bud.

Just give the trophy to the condors already
3 years ago

GOAT

HJones
3 years ago

Kyle will also break the 100 FR LCM WR this summer. Realistically, we have probably seen the fastest of CD in the 100, given the history of swimmers in the event. I am going to modify my prediction in that we will not see Chalmers lose to Dressel in the 100 LC again, assuming Chalmers stays healthy.

john26
3 years ago

Can they please immediately usher him to the LC pool across town so he can put up a LC time for comparison 🙂

CY~
Reply to  john26
3 years ago

There’s a LC pool in that building 😛

Daeleb Creseel
Reply to  john26
3 years ago

Great suggestion! Get KK and chlorinedaddy too

John
Reply to  john26
3 years ago

I would crowdfund this right now!

About Retta Race

Former Masters swimmer and coach Loretta (Retta) thrives on a non-stop but productive schedule. Nowadays, that includes having earned her MBA while working full-time in IT while owning French 75 Boutique while also providing swimming insight for BBC.

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