Australian Trials: Freestyle Sprint King Kyle Chalmers And The Aussie Kids Who Are Ready To Rock Fukuoka
Kyle Chalmers is like a little boy in a candy shop after leading Australian swimming’s new kids on the block on a merry chase in front of a packed house at the Melbourne Sports And Aquatic Centre tonight.
IF THE CAP FITS: Flynn Southam and Kyle Chalmers ready to rock Fukuoka. Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr Swimming Australia
In a spectacular 47.44 seconds, the 24-year-old Chalmers (Marion, SA) unleashed all of his energy and adrenalin to inspire and lead Australia’s next generation to this year’s World Championships in Fukuoka.
And the next generation were all in a hurry to follow the big fella with 19-year-old Gold Coaster Flynn Southam (Bond University, QLD) becoming the eighth Australian to break 48 seconds – a real milestone swim of 47.77 – making him the sixth fastest Australian of all time.
Australia now joins China, Great Britain and Brazil as the fourth country with two male 100m sprinters under 48 seconds – with the Americans sure to join in the fray at their World Trials in two weeks.
In fact Australia had its first six swimmers under 49 seconds in tonight’s final, with Jack Cartwright hanging on for third to clinch a relay spot in 48.50 after his 48.21 in the heats.
Top Eight Australians 100m freestyle, World Trials 2023
- Kyle Chalmers, 24 (Marion, SA) 47.44 (pb 47.08)
- Flynn Southam,18 (Bond, QLD) 47.77 (pb)
- Jack Cartwright, 24 (St Peters Western, QLD) 48.50 (pb 47.97)
- Kai Taylor, 19 (St Peters Western, QLD) 48.60 (pb 48.41)
- Matthew Temple, 23 (Marion, SA) 48.82 (pb 48.07)
- Dylan Andrea, 19 (Chandler, QLD) 48.94 (pb)
- Cody Simpson, 26 (Griffith University, QLD) 49.11(pb)
- Alex Graham, 28 (Miami, QLD) 49.40 (pb 48.65)
Photo Courtesy:Delly Carr Swimming Australia
“I’m excited,” said Chalmers. “I had a lot of energy and with all the young boys next to me, we are going to do something special in a couple of weeks time.
“That’s what I get most excited about is the relays; I know we’ve got great depth…six dudes going 48…and to go under 48 is amazing and to have the composure to be able to do that.
“It takes a lot of adrenalin and a lot of energy tonight in front of a big crowd. You know the 100m freestyle is on when the crowd’s that big.
“Flynn (Southam) performed so well and I’m really proud of him.
“I feel like I’m just getting started on my journey again to be honest with you; I’m loving it.
“I’m so happy doing it…it’s awesome. It’s so much fun and I can’t wait to do it again on the World’s stage in a couple of weeks’ time…it will be awesome.”
And Southam is growing in stature and confidence with every swim.
“[Tonight’s race] was a bit of contrast before the 200m, I was really worried about a time and trying to win and I ended up having a really bad swim. So for me just going out there and being a kid and being myself, not trying to swim like Kyle, but get next to him, race him and use it as much as possible,” said Southam.
“I’ve had a lot of life changing stuff that’s happened out of the pool in the past 12 months… being overseas and some loved ones passing away, for me it is just bigger than sport.
“I put the work in every day and I leave no stone unturned so for me to come out here and do that [time] it’s a relief, but at the same time it’s exciting because I’m just hitting the tip of the iceberg at the moment.”
“When it comes to the relays….If we can do something like the guys did in 2000 in the 4×100 (when Australia won gold) that would be the best thing ever. I think that’s a common goal [among Australian men] and the camaraderie in the marshalling room was just great.”
TOP FLIGHT: Kyle Chalmers (centre), Flynn Southam (left) and Jack Cartwright (right)_ off to a flyer in the men’s 100m freestyle.Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr Swimming Australia.