Kyle Chalmers Scratches 100 Fly At Australian Olympic Trials Amid Back Injury

2024 AUSTRALIAN OLYMPIC TRIALS

After booking his ticket to a third Olympic team earlier in the meet, Kyle Chalmers chose to forgo the men’s 100 butterfly on the final day of the 2024 Australian Olympic Trials.

Chalmers was coming in as the #3 seed, but the combination of dealing with a back injury and a reported illness all week kept him on the sidelines of the event which he’s put more of a focus on in the last two or three years.

The 25-year-old said a few weeks ago, he took an entire day off which resulted in his back “locking up”, something that’s still been hampering through the Trials this week.

“I just spent the day laying on the couch, which my body is clearly not used to,” Chalmers said, according to Yahoo. “It got pretty stiff and then the Saturday morning, I tried to do a dive and it just all spasmed and locked up.

“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. I am just grateful to be here racing and be back on the mend.

“I know that I can get it right in six weeks’ time (for the Olympics). I have put on a pretty brave face to be able to get through but it has definitely been quite challenging.”

On Thursday, Chalmers punched his ticket to Paris in the men’s 100 free, winning the final in a time of 47.75.

In his absence in Saturday morning’s 100 fly prelims, Matt Temple grabbed the top seed in a time of 51.46, with Ben Armbruster a close second at 51.57.

Chalmers set his best time of 51.61 at last year’s Australian Trials.

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DK99
4 months ago

Cortisone Kyle couldn’t get his injections in time

ScovaNotiaSwimmer
4 months ago

I think Brent Hayden could explain what back spasms can do to a sprinter’s career.

Buffalo Joe
4 months ago

As an American I hope Kyle is at 100% at Paris

Thomas Selig
4 months ago

His back’s probably sore from carrying the men’s 4×100 free and medley delays for so long 🙂

Skip
4 months ago

Kyle said he was focused on 100 free and the relay. This kinda isnt surprising. I’d have liked to see him swim fly. But best to focus on free

Oceanian
4 months ago

In my 20s I once put my back out by scooping ice cream out of a tub lol.

Took lots of physio and then (in desperation) a chiropractor to fix it.

I’m glad Kyle can concentrate on free & relays.

Loz
4 months ago

My positive spin is that this explains the second 50 of his 100 free the other night. My negative spin is that it’s naayyyt good he’s battling illness/injury this close to Paris. Fingers crossed he gets better soon.

Gheko
4 months ago

Kyle has a Pb of 51.37 shame he had to withdraw but his health has to come first!

About James Sutherland

James Sutherland

James swam five years at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, specializing in the 200 free, back and IM. He finished up his collegiate swimming career in 2018, graduating with a bachelor's degree in economics. In 2019 he completed his graduate degree in sports journalism. Prior to going to Laurentian, James swam …

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