2023 WORLD AQUATICS CHAMPIONSHIPS
- July 23 to 30, 2023
- Fukuoka, Japan
- Marine Messe Fukuoka
- LCM (50m)
- WORLD CHAMPS WATCH PARTY – DAILY
- Meet Central
- SwimSwam Preview Index
- Entry Book
- Live Results (Omega)
- Day 1 Prelims Live Recap | Day 1 Finals Live Recap
- Day 2 Prelims Live Recap | Day 2 Finals Live Recap
- Day 3 Prelims Live Recap | Day 3 Finals Live Recap
- Day 4 Prelims Live Recap | Day 4 Finals Live Recap
- Day 5 Prelims Live Recap | Day 5 Finals Live Recap
Heading into this year’s World Championships, there was only one major gold medal missing from Kyle Chalmers‘ career résumé in the 100-meter freestyle.
The 25-year-old Aussie sprint star had won his signature event at the Olympics (2016), Short Course World Championships (2022), Commonwealth Games (2022), Pan Pacific Championships (2018), and World Junior Championships (2015), but never before at long course Worlds — until Thursday night.
Chalmers earned his first individual world title in a long course pool with a time of 47.15, just off his personal-best 47.08 that took silver behind Caeleb Dressel (46.96) at the 2019 World Championships. After only swimming relays last year, Chalmers topped the 100 free podium this year ahead of 20-year-old American Jack Alexy (47.31) and 24-year-old Frenchman Maxime Grousset (47.42), with world record holder David Popovici (47.83) placing 6th after also missing a medal in the 200 free (4th place in 1:44.90).
“It was the last medal to complete the set in my swimming career, so to be able to do that tonight in such a stacked field, it was very special,” Chalmers said after the victory. “It’s one that I’ve been desperate to do for quite some time and I did have doubt in my mind at times that I wouldn’t be able to achieve that. There’s always a lot of pressure and expectation on me to perform and to win gold so that’s a moment that I’ll cherish for a very long time.
“It’s a moment that I trained for six days a week, 50 weeks of the year, is that exact feeling that I’m feeling right now is standing on the top of the podium singing my national anthem proudly and having a gold medal around my neck,” Chalmers added.
Seven years after his Olympic breakout in Rio at age 18, Chalmers said this win was more meaningful for him because of the sacrifice it required.
“I’ve had to work so much harder for that moment tonight. (In) 2016, I was an 18-year old-kid and to be honest, I didn’t really know probably what I had achieved in that moment,” Chalmers said. “It was just another stepping stone in that period that I was in. I’ve had to work so hard for seven years, sacrifice so much, go through heart surgery, shoulder surgeries, some pretty bad mental health times throughout this last little period, so I know how much it means to me, my family, my friends.”
Chalmers’ winning time marks the fastest in the world this season ahead of China’s Pan Zhanle (47.22), who missed the podium by just .01 seconds with his fourth-place finish in 47.43.
“There were times where I thought that I’d never get back to swimming fast. I wasn’t overly fast for probably two years after Rio,” he continued. “For me to stand up as a 25-year-old, the oldest guy in that race tonight, to stand on top of the podium finally in a world championship final is so special. It’s a moment that I’ve envisioned for quite some time.
“I train to win,” Chalmers added. “I don’t train just to make up the numbers. I want to win the race every time. I’m a competitive beast so for me, I’m very happy with that.”
Alexy became the second-fastest American ever behind Dressel with his runner-up finish, which marked a bounce-back performance after he botched his semifinal start and barely qualified for finals in 8th place.
“I’m pretty happy to come back after that semifinal swim getting messed up at the start,” said Alexy, a 6-foot-7 rising junior at Cal. “I knew I could have just a little chance of medaling or even winning that event. I’m very happy that I did and made myself proud and very happy.
Meanwhile, Popovici told reporters he’s “going to be just fine” moving forward if he can be more consistent with his training. He referenced “a lot of ups and down this year,” which may have included his training getting interrupted by the Baccalaureate exam in May.
“As soon as I touched the wall in the 200, this thought flashed in my head, which was ‘I need to train better,’” Popovici said. “I need to train more and most importantly, I need to be more consistent because, that’s the glue that holds it all together. Fortunately for me, what hasn’t gone perfectly here is trainable so as long as I take care of my training, be more consistent than I’ve been this year, which had a lot of ups and downs, I’m going to be just fine.”
Congratulations to Kyle Chalmers for the gold medals, and more gold medals to come, he has won multiple gold medals in swimming, showcasing his exceptional talent in the sport.
With the strong support from Gina Rinehart who serves as the patron for Swimming Australia, providing her strong support and influence to make a positive impact to the Australian Team.
Both individuals have made significant contributions in their respective fields, inspiring others through their achievements and dedication.
So to summarize. One needs to train better to swim better. Got it.
This meet has shown Dragonfly of Bucharest is not invincible. Many great swimmers over the years came close to the 100 free world record but never got it so when Popovici got it at such a young age and with a LOT of confidence (“Chlorine Daddy”) it obviously got in at least ONE superstar’s head. Y’all know who I’m talking about.
Don’t get me wrong, Popovici still may win the 100 gold next year but this meet makes it much more interesting. The 100 free is just a really fickle event at the elite level. Combine that with the always insane level of competition and anything can happen.
I admire the extreme maturity at his young age. He being honest with himself that he hasn’t worked as hard this year and lost his edge.
I did notice that he looms extremely skinny at thus meet, maybe it’s just my head but even moreso than last year. Imagine if he gets into a weight room…
David who? Chlorine what?
Meanwhile, Chalmers continues to be a one-event threat.
… and every relay he’s in. Which equates to a damn fine amount of bling in decisive result-changing swims.
I guess everyone who isn’t Phelps just sucks, eh?
Chalmers is one of the most consistent performers ever, especially for 100 Free swimmers.
In waters fierce, Chalmers did compete,
A gold medal, his mission complete.
With strokes so strong and fast,
He triumphed at long last,
The set of his dreams, a feat so sweet.
Popovici, a rising star so bright,
Had moments of struggle and slight,
Yet with training, he’ll mend,
His journey won’t end,
He’ll soar again, embracing the fight.
Alright dude we get it you discovered generative AI how hip
I think Kyle is great! However, he did not heart surgery. He had a procedure/procedures carried out. They are not surgery.
He had multiple heart procedures and multiple shoulder surgeries. Still a lot to go through.
Indeed.
Maybe… but these procedures took him out of the pool and away from training for very long periods of time. So in the end, the result is that he wasn’t able to get in the training he ordinarily would have to enable him to compete at the highest levels.
What is or isnt a surgical procedure or just an ‘interventional’ procedure is an academic point….and hardly the point!
You know I’d think Kyle knows what he’s talking about given that he’s the one that went through it
He went through it, but it still isn’t heart surgery. He has been through a lot, and I’m a big Kyle fan. Of course, I would have liked Matt to have got a medal, but I’m very pleased for Kyle, after the challenges he’s had, in and out of the pool.
Are you Chalmers doctor?
No, I’m a nurse with 40 years’ experience, some of which is in cardiology.
He had SVT ablation, so yes he had heart surgery. Unless you know of a way that this can be done without being invasive, then yes it’s surgery. It’s sure not “laying of hands”.
I respect Popovici’s maturity so damn much… I’m nearly a decade older than he is and I find his attitude/stoicism something I want to strive to be more like.
Chalmers has that dog in him. One of the deepest fields in a long time and he takes it, congrats.
Chalmers continues to be a one-event threat.
Can’t help but be pleased for Chalmers.
Popovici with another year’s growth and without a massive exam two months out from the major meet you have to suspect will be absolutely flying.
I can tell you from now: Ch
lorinedaddy will take gold in Paris.