Multi-Olympic medalist Kyle Chalmers may not be competing at this year’s World Championships, but the 23-year-old South Australian native is still slated to race at his nation’s Trials which begin on Wednesday morning.
The 2016 Olympic champion in the men’s 100m freestyle underwent a second shoulder surgery this past December. That left him out of last year’s Short Course World Championships as well as several domestic meets already in 2022.
Ready to come back at these Australian Trials, the Marion Swimming Club team member is putting his current physical state into perspective.
“The last two-and-a-half years has been very frustrating, dealing with shoulder injuries day-in, day-out,” Chalmers told reporters on Tuesday. (7NEWS)
“It’s more so the away-from-the-pool stuff that it affects me, like my everyday lifestyle – I can’t sleep on my shoulders, driving, drinking coffees, whatever it is … anything lifting my shoulders is what sucks.
“If it was just the two hours, four hours a day I am in the pool that it was sore, it would be OK.
“But it’s the everyday life that gets affected from shoulder injuries or injuries in general that you just can’t get away from, just forever in your head.”
The freestyle ace reflected on what it took to get him on the podium with silver in the men’s 100m free last year, saying, “To get to Tokyo, (I had to) do everything I possibly can – surgeries, cortisones, … anti-inflammatories every day.
“This year, it’s like: what will this impact have on the rest of my life?”
Looking ahead, the sprinter said, “Let’s hope it (the shoulders) goes until at least Paris … surely I have got a few more years in me.
“I turn 24 next month so still pretty young, unfortunately it feels like I am 40 most days.
“Unfortunately when I am done with swimming I probably won’t be able to lift my shoulders above my head. But do it while I can and then take it from there.”
Chalmers is set to contest just the men’s 50m and 100m fly at this year’s Aussie Trials, having already qualified for the Commonwealth Games via his 100m free silver medal from Tokyo.
This makes me so sad. I love the contrast between him and Dressel in the 100 free and I’d hate for the rivalry to be cut short because of injuries. I hope he can make it to Paris and have one last battle with Dressel in the 100 free
How’s your breaststroke Kyle???
I love the dressel-chalmers rivalry. Love it!
But it’s not worth it, Kyle. Save your shoulders my friend, you’ll be glad you did!
Honestly if it’s that bad then I don’t think he should push it. Look at Missy Franklin and Ian Thorpe, they say that they messed up their shoulders so bad that they can’t even lap swim for fun anymore. Is it worth it to ruin your body for the rest of your life in the hopes of another gold?
Another article from SMH reporting most of the same stuff about his shoulders also reported that he’s dropping the 200 free from his program “altogether”. While I expected him to replace the 200 free with 100 fly since before Tokyo, I wonder if this means he won’t be targetting the relay either?
The article also said not to expect much from him at trials with his goal being only to make top 3 in the fly events to qualify for Comm Games.
He said on a podcast last week that he hasn’t had much prep, but an unprepared Chalmers is still going to be better than 99% of other swimmers. He swam an equal PB in Tokyo with terrible prep.
Or maybe he’s lying about his prep…
He didn’t have a break in Feb/March before Tokyo like he did this year and trials is also earlier.
This is so strange because I swear he said on Brett Hawke’s podcast last week that his shoulders have been good lately? Unless I’m remembering wrong?
Also recommend that podcast (and his Instagram). He and Zac are so funny.
I think 7news recycled an old interview. I’ve read these quotes before – earlier this year sometime.
Yeah I was thinking the same thing but the article says he said it on Tuesday. Might be a bit loose with the truth.
It seems strange he is pursuing the butterfly when the shoulders are causing so much grief? Not sure if the movement that goes with this stroke would hamper any chance of healing but can’t imagine it would help? Maybe Chalmers is better sticking with the free so he can see Paris out rather than introducing another stroke. Must be devastating though to manage the pain in and out of the pool and looking at still a further 2 years till Paris.
Agree, my shoulders got very injured just doing more fly in training, as did my squad mates. With the bio-mechanics of the stroke, I cant see how this could possibly be okay for his shoulders. I completely agree Auzzie, should stick to free only, and not the distance work (200m training).
With Temple now a team mate, Kyle may produce something special.