Chalmers Churns Out New World Junior Record In 100 Free (48.03)

2016 HANCOCK PROSPECTING AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS (AUSTRALIAN OLYMPIC TRIALS)

While competing in Adelaide at the 2016 Australian National Championships, which serve as the nation’s Olympic Trials, sprinting stud Cameron McEvoy unleashed a gold medal-winning mark of 47.04, the world’s fastest textile 100m freestyle of all-time.

Charging to the wall in silver, however, was 17-year-old double World Junior ChampionĀ Kyle Chalmers, who rocked a man-speed-worthy time of 48.03 to clinch an individual spot on the Aussie Rio roster ahead of such heavily-experienced athletes as James Magnussen,Ā the 2012 Olympic silver medalist in the event, and James Roberts.

Not only did 48.03 clock a monster personal best for Marion Swimming Club’s Chalmers, it also crushed a shiny new World Junior Record, shaving more than 3 tenths off of the old WJR mark of 48.25 held by Brazil’s Matheus Santana since 2014. Below is the split comparison between Santana’s and Chalmer’s quickest swims:

Santana – 23.51/24.84 = 48.25
Chalmers – 23.20/24.83 = 48.03

Of his race strategy, the teenage star said, “I had to stay calm in that first 50.Ā I could see when I was breathing that I was pretty close to them which I knew was good for me because my back end is always the strongest part of my race. So I just enjoyed the race and enjoyed the experience racing against those bigger guys.”

Representing his South Australia, Chalmers stated,Ā ā€œIt means a lot to me and also to the state. Itā€™s good for me to get up there tonight and do it not just for me but for South Australian swimmers and people that have come out to support tonight.ā€

Chalmers’ time lit his previous personal best and 17-year-old Aussie age group record time of 48.47 on fire, making him the green and gold’s fastest 17-year-old in history. His time also surpassed the 18-year-old males’ age group record of 48.07, held by none other than McEvoy, possibly foreshadowing where we may be 4 years down the road preparing for Tokyo 2020.

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Joel Lin
7 years ago

I know it has been commented before by Bobo, but how tall is this kid? And McEvoy, and Magnusen?

Admin
Reply to  Joel Lin
7 years ago

Joel – Chalmers is ‘very tall.’ Haven’t seen a recent update, but a year ago he was reported at 194cm, or 6’4, and he probably didn’t stop growing at 16. McEvoy is somewhere around 6 feet, and Magnussen is something like 6’6 (in ph0tos, he’s maybe a touch shorter than 6’7 Nathan Adrian depending on posture, but clearly taller than 6’4 Brent Hayden).

Aussie Oy
Reply to  Braden Keith
7 years ago

Magnussen is almost 6’4″ (1.95 m)
McEvoy is 6′ (1.85 m)

Nathan Adrian is

Aussie Oy
Reply to  Joel Lin
7 years ago

I don’t know if you can rely on Bobo when it comes the heights of swimmers šŸ™‚
He got the heights of Australian and US sprinters all mixed up.
(he said that Australian female sprinters are taller than Americans, when in reality since 2008, the average heights of US 4×100 free team have always been consistently taller than Australians’).

Wirotomo
Reply to  Joel Lin
7 years ago

Chalmers 1.94m (6’4″)
Magnussen 1.95m (6’5″)
McEvoy 1.83m (6′)

Backstroouk
7 years ago

Would it be realistic to expect a 48 from Michael Andrew? I still believe in him…

Rafael
Reply to  Backstroouk
7 years ago

Not at all, he did not even break 50.

RL
Reply to  Backstroouk
7 years ago

I believe in him too, but the 100FR does not seem to be his main focus right now- probably 100BR 100FL 50FR 200IM. But he WILL get that 48 someday! I do hope they try some strength training someday. I think it will make him even faster.

Rafael
Reply to  RL
7 years ago

He needs some endurance training (and give up the I will go for 4 races in the same day (Jr Worlds anybody?) and his free really need some technique improvement.
He canĀ“t try to go for a Phelps schedule if he does not build the endurance for it..
The 100 breast is probably his only chance on getting a final at US Trials..

Irish Ringer
Reply to  Rafael
7 years ago

Well stated…couldn’t agree more.

Arthur S
Reply to  Rafael
7 years ago

He definitely needs better coaching either from his parents or someone else. His parents make him swim way too many events and he doesn’t do well in any of them. You can’t just rely on faith that you will recover in 10 minutes between events. He has had some brilliant swims and a lot of awful swims so I have no idea what to expect at trials this year. I hope he does well but it seems extremely unlikely he will qualify for any events.

Uberfan
7 years ago

Yeah hopefully they can medal this year and get more than bronze

grace
7 years ago

Interesting to note: Grant Hackett has also said that Chalmer’s would’ve done a sub-48 if he hit the wall better. Apparently, Chalmer’s hit the wall too hard because he was too close (couldn’t see in the replay–the camera was focused on McEvoy). I’m honestly excited to see what us Aussie’s have got in store for those damn Yanks.

OntarioSwimming
Reply to  grace
7 years ago

Chalmers will have opportunity to swim 47 in Rio.

ERVINFORTHEWIN
Reply to  OntarioSwimming
7 years ago

The Yanks will be ready , be sure of that .

OntarioSwimming
Reply to  ERVINFORTHEWIN
7 years ago

I see that you responded to me, but to give you the benefit of the doubt, were you responding to me, or to Grace?
Because I didn’t mention anything abut the Yanks or anything remotely related to the Yanks.

Rafael
7 years ago

Santana wjr was 48,25 from Jr Olympics not 48,35 which was his maria lenk time from the same year

G3
Reply to  Rafael
7 years ago

Is Santana done for? I think he might be. No improvement for a while. Very disappointing.

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Former Masters swimmer and coach Loretta (Retta) thrives on a non-stop but productive schedule. Nowadays, that includes having just 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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