After Near Miss, Kyle Chalmers Ready to Make Another Run at World Record in 100 Freestyle
The next stop of the FINA World Cup is scheduled for Oct. 28-30 in Kazan, and there is no doubt about the leading storyline as the series shifts to Russia. Coming off the third-fastest performance in the history of the 100-meter freestyle, can Australian Kyle Chalmers take down the super-suited world record in the event?
En route to victory in Doha last week, Chalmers registered a national record of 45.03, with that performance only .09 off the world record of France’s Amaury Leveaux. The Frenchman, who raced in a now-banned polyurethane suit, set the global mark of 44.94 at the 2008 edition of the European Short Course Championships. The No. 2 effort all-time belongs to Russia’s Vladimir Morozov at 44.95.
Following his mark in Doha, Chalmers took to his Instagram account and noted that he was eager to chase the world record in Kazan. During his challenge of Leveaux’s world record, Chalmers was out in 21.64 and came home in 23.39. Finding a little more speed on the front half or finishing slightly quicker could propel Chalmers to the world record. While Chalmers has enjoyed a breakout campaign in the short-course pool, he is a well-established star in the 50-meter pool, having won Olympic gold in the 100 freestyle in 2016 and the silver medal at last summer’s Games in Tokyo.
If Chalmers does not get Leveauz’s world record during World Cup competition, he will have additional opportunities when the International Swimming League (ISL) resumes with its postseason in November in Eindhoven. Chalmers is expected to play a key role in the London Roar’s chase for a berth in the league final.