Kyle Chalmers Blazed 47.63 100 Free After Ankle Surgery From (Another) Aussie Football Injury

2024 AUSTRALIAN OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS

After clocking a 47.63 100 freestyle at the Australian Open Championships on Saturday, Kyle Chalmers told reporters that he underwent a full ankle surgery in December to address three torn ligaments suffered while playing Australian Rules Football (AFL) last September. The 25-year-old became the fourth-fastest 100 freestyler in the world this season even with a tightrope and screws still in his right ankle.

Despite being just four months removed from the surgery, Chalmers clocked a sub-48 second 100 free for the first time at the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre, much faster than his 48.00 from this time last year. His previous season-best time was 48.15 from December’s Japan Open, a mark he beat in prelims at 48.08.

The last time Chalmers suffered an Australian Rules Football ankle injury the year before the Olympics, he went on to win a gold medal in Rio back in 2016 at 18 years old. He made an under-the-radar XVIII AFL debut for Immanuel College back in the spring of 2015, but he left within the first five minutes with a broken wrist and torn ankle ligaments. The teen tried to conceal his ankle injury for a few weeks from his swim coaches before finally getting treated with cortisone injections to ease the ankle swelling and a plastic cast for his wrist.

In addition to recovering from his surgery in December, Chalmers has also faced an unexpected challenge this year with his coaching situation. He moved to Queensland to train under former OlympianΒ Ashley DelaneyΒ afterΒ his coach Peter Bishop was stood down by the South Australia Institute of Sport and had his coaching accreditation revoked.

Nevertheless, Chalmers posted lifetime bests in the 50 free (21.98) and 50 fly (23.10) this week along with his impressive 47.63 100 free. Only Alessandro Miressi (47.61), Chris Giuliano (47.49), and world record holder Pan Zhanle (46.80) have been quicker than Chalmers in the 100 free this season. His best 100 free time stands at 47.08 from the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

Chalmers also offered a preview of the 100 free at the Paris Olympics this summer, saying he’s training his best to go sub-47 seconds for the first time when it matters most.

β€œThere’s a few guys going 46 now and it’s something that I’ve chased for a very long time, but I think, as I’ve progressed in my swimming career, it’s not necessarily about time, it’s more about the result,’’ Chalmers said. β€œYou reflect on previous Olympic champions and what is remembered is who won the race rather than what time they swam and I pride myself on, no matter who I’m racing against, lifting to their time or their standard. If guys are swimming 46 seconds that’s what I’m going to have to do to win, so that’s what I’m training my best for.”

β€œI think it will be very fast and it will be race that will be remembered for a very long time,” he added. “You’ve got a former world record-holder (David Popovici), a world record-holder (Pan), a former Olympic champion in Caeleb Dressel and myself as a former Olympic champion, all in the one race. I think it’s going to be a special race and I really hope to be part of it.’’

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Sorin
6 months ago

Man I swear every single Australian swimmer under the sun has had some major injury/surgery done. Wonder how much of it is a training thing versus healthcare differences compared to the US.

Beginner Swimmer at 25
7 months ago

No doubt he’s getting those PRP Injections after every operation πŸ’‰πŸ’‰πŸ’‰πŸ˜ˆπŸ˜ˆπŸ˜ˆ

Slow Breastroker
Reply to  Beginner Swimmer at 25
6 months ago

Dressel is getting TUEs every Tuesday

πŸ’‰πŸ’‰πŸ’‰πŸ’‰πŸ’‰πŸ’‰

Jeah
7 months ago

Why was Chalmers coach barred from coaching?

Italian fan
7 months ago

Swimmers are very prone to ankle and knee injuries when they play or run on land. KC should realize that Aussie football is better left for when he hangs his goggles and hasn’t got so much to lose.

Fast and Furious
7 months ago

I must not play football during an Olympic year
I must not play football during an Olympic year
I must not play football during an Olympic year
I must not play football during an Olympic year
I must not play football during an Olympic year

MTK
7 months ago

I know stuff happens sometimes, but maybe better to leave the Aussie football until after the Olympics, if he’s as serious as he says he is about wanting gold again.

Oceanian
Reply to  MTK
7 months ago

Up where he is living/training now, Aussie Rules isn’t so popular (they prefer rugby) and he can’t have made too many mates up there yet.

So very unlikely he would be having a kick – even if he wasn’t 100% serious about trials/Paris, which he very much is.

mds
Reply to  Oceanian
6 months ago

Well, that’s good. Nobody ever gets injured in Rugby. Right?

Emily Se-Bom Lee
Reply to  mds
6 months ago

can’t get injured in rugby is he’s not interested in the sport

Octavio Gupta
7 months ago

It blows my mind that Kyle Chalmers is only 25 years old.

Slow Breastroker
Reply to  Octavio Gupta
6 months ago

He’s only 9 months older than Michael Andrew.

rhode
7 months ago

I will put my money on Chalmers if he is in good form.

About Riley Overend

Riley is an associate editor interested in the stories taking place outside of the pool just as much as the drama between the lane lines. A 2019 graduate of Boston College, he arrived at SwimSwam in April of 2022 after three years as a sports reporter and sports editor at newspapers …

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