Kyle Chalmers Ready To Bundy On For His Day Job As Australia’s World Swimming Trials Get Under Way In Melbourne
Australia’s working-class Olympic swimming champion Kyle Chalmers is ready to bundy back on for his day job when the 2023 Australian Swimming Trials get under way at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre tomorrow (Tuesday, Australian time).
HAPPY TIMES: Kyle Chalmers working towards Fukuoka and Paris. Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr (Swimming NSW).
The 24-year-old will take a break from his part-time work as an Adelaide “tradie” to book his place on the Dolphins team for next month’s World Aquatic Championships in Fukuoka, Japan (July 14-30).
Chalmers will start his campaign on Wednesday morning (Day Two of the Six-day meet) with the heats of the 200m freestyle with his premier event the 100m freestyle on Friday (Day Four), before finishing up with the 100m butterfly on the last day, Sunday (Day Six), after which the Australian team will be named.
Tomorrow’s opening session will be a real block-busting start to the meet with a real Olympic gold medal feel featuring Chalmers fellow Olympic champions Kaylee McKeown in the 200m individual medley; Zac Stubblety-Cook in the 100m breaststroke and Emma McKeon in the 100m butterfly and Ariarne Titmus and Mack Horton in the women’s and men’s 400m freestyle.
While Chalmers building blocks have put Australia’s sprint freestyle king back in a happy place as he thrives in the camaraderie of both the work place and on the pool deck.
“I am still working (on building sites) two days a week on the tools (as a tradesman) in Adelaide which is making me really happy and I’m absolutely loving it,” says Chalmers.
“It’s that camaraderie working on the job, mixing it with the boys on site, lifting some tools with one of my best mates (fellow Olympian) Matt Temple who comes along with me.
“It’s physically and mentally exhausting after five or six hours of labouring on a building site.
THAT’S A WRAP: Kyle Chalmers and German training partner Josha Salchow. Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr (Swimming Australia)
“But I think that’s the key to my success over this last little period, just putting myself in an uncomfortable environment and finding myself away from the pool again.
“Re-establishing my happiness and it’s been a very good few months and I’m so grateful that DP Homes has given me the opportunity to come and do that.”
Chalmers has been on training camp in the warmer Darwin climate with his Marion SA Swim Team group under coach Peter Bishop, after putting the finishing touches to his racing preparation at the Sydney Open last month, where he took just 47.69 seconds to send a clear message that he’s both physically and mentally ready to take on the world in Fukuoka.
The 2016 Rio Olympic champion had been 48.00 seconds twice this year and he had a target to go under 48 but even he didn’t t think he’ go that far under.
You couldn’t wipe the smile off his face after clocking the third fastest time in the world this year and his fastest in-season time.
Chalmers thrives on racing, and he thrives on challenges and inspiring the next generation with the likes of improving teens like Kai Taylor (St Peters Western, QLD) and Flynn Southam (Bond, QLD) who were second and third respectively in the Australian final in 48.41 and 48.53.
Along with Chalmers, only two other current swimmers, Australian record holder Cameron McEvoy (Somerville House) and his 47.04 swum back in 2016 and Jack Cartwright (St Peters Western QLD) and his 47.97 back at the 2017 Worlds have been under 48. Others in contention will be Alex Graham (Miami, QLD), Chalmers training partner and fellow tradie Temple and Louis Townsend (Rackley Swim Team, QLD) who will all be chasing that 48 second barrier.
IN THE MIDDLE: Kyle Chalmers off and racing. Photo Courtesy: Swimming NSW
“There are some young kids in the 100m coming through too that I love racing against,” said Chalmers.
“I (also) love the camaraderie we are forming with the guys, hopefully I’ll be racing in the relays with next year and I think for me I’m loving it.
“I have been around for quite some time now I am still finding ways to motivate myself and get myself up….”
And for Chalmers he also knows that if he wants to clock on for a full book of Olympic events in Paris next year, he “has to be in it to win it” and that means lining up in the 200m freestyle – something he didn’t do last year.
“The 200m freestyle is an event we are quite deep in and that we do well in internationally in the relays so I want to make sure I am available this this year,” said Chalmers.
“Last year I wasn’t able to swim the 4×200 (at Worlds) because I didn’t swim it at Trials and I know if I want to be part of that relay team, in Fukuoka and Paris then I have to swim it at Trials and do a good job of it.
“I think we are very good medal chance if not a gold medal chance and I want to put myself in contention for that and again.
“We also have a good group of young guys coming through that can do something special – you look at Kai (Taylor), Elijah Winnington is not that old Flynn (Southam), Tommy Neill is still quite young as is Sam Short and then there are the older guys who still hold their own against them. We are going to have a really good team.”
IN THE SWING IOF THINGS: Kyle Chalmers ready to rock in Melbourne. Photo Courtesy: Swimming NSW
And the 100m freestyle king still has the 100m butterfly in his sights as well.
“I have been doing the 100 fly for the last few years; I swam it at this meet in 2020 so I am still training for it.
“It’s a good thing for me to still be able to mix up the freestyle in training and change over to butterfly and race against Matt (Temple) – having the Australian record holder next to me and to be able to challenge myself against him.
“He’s flying at the moment, going really well and we keep each other accountable and have a lot of fun at the same time.”