It is touted as swimming’s blue ribband event and the men’s 100m freestyle at the Olympic Games is again developing into a good old fashioned duel in the pool between Australia and the USA.
And 2020 in Tokyo with Australia’s Kyle Chalmers and the USA’s Caeleb Dressel is shaping up to be one for the ages.
Of the 26 times the two swimming powerhouses have raced the 100m freestyle the US have won 13 and Australia four and there’s been five times when the two countries have gone gold-silver – with the US taking the quinella three to the Aussies two.
FATHER OF SURFING – KING OF THE POOL: Duke Kahanamoku – Photo Courtesy: International Swimming Hall of Fame (ISHOF)
The US with the father of surfing Duke Kahanamoku winning gold ahead of Australia’s Cecil Healy in 1912 after the Australian War hero refused to swim the semi-finals without the famous Hawaiian; Rowdy Gaines out-lasting Mark Stockwell in 1984 after the Aussie missed the start in LA and Nathan Adrian out-touching James Magnussen in 2012 – are all great races that favoured the Americans.
CONTROVERSIAL GOLD: Australia’s John Devitt won the 100m in Rome in one of the most controversialn finishes in Olympic history. Photo Courtesy: Swimming NSW.
Australia had their turns in 1960 when Australia’s John Devitt won a controversial 100m against American Lance Larson and in 1968 when Mike Wenden upset US pair Ken Walsh and Mark Spitz and it just adds further spice to the duelling blue ribband event.
Tokyo will be no different with the two top guns of world 100m sprinting – defending Olympic champion Chalmers and reigning world champion US super swimmer Dressel shaping up as the two boys most likely.
Dressel, who at 23 won in Gwangju in 46.96 and Chalmers at 21 touched in 47.08 are set to rock the pool in one of the real showdowns of the men’s freestyle events.
If the American, with the best skills in the game and Chalmers with the best finish both bring their A games then it’s going to be another duel that will heat up the pool.
Chalmers has welcomed the cream of Australia’s 100 and 200m freestyle boys into his home pool in Adelaide this week– the SA Aquatic and Leisure Centre –for a National Relay Camp –an environment the Dolphins thrive on.
And in a break from the rigors of the camp, Chalmers took time out to talk all things Olympics and what the world can expect when the gun fires in Tokyo (Coronavirus permitting).
For starters Chalmers laid it straight…ensuring everyone knew the lay of the land….saying: “I’ve still got to qualify first……”
Intimating that he won’t be taking anything for granted and that he has to perform at he Trials in June, at his home pool.
“(In fact) we both have to qualify…the US are really deep in the men’s 100m freestyle (too).”
But he quickly got down to business….”But I’m excited to have the eyes on me and I’m excited to have that rivalry (with Caeleb Dressel) building over the last few years…”
And on favouritism?
THE CONDOR v THE BIG TUNA: Caeleb Dressel and Kyle Chalmers ready for blue ribband duel. Photos Courtesy: Peter H. Bick and Delly Carr (Swimming Australia).
“I don’t particularly think there is going to be a favourite going in,” said Chalmers.
“Obviously Caeleb winning the World Championships last year, I think there’s going to be a bit more pressure on him.
“I’m excited to have that opportunity to race him on the biggest stage and have the eyes on us.
“We don’t get to swim all that often with a huge crowd watching us but to do it at an Olympic Games against a guy I see as a mate as well it’s exciting and it really drives me every day in the pool.”
Chalmers also spoke glowingly about his proposed program saying there was the 100 and 200m freestyle and potentially four relays, tempering his final program by saying that he would not make that final decision until he arrived into Tokyo.
But the 200m was in fact “tracking along nicely” and he was looking forward to cranking out a good one, which will be exciting for his chances in the 100m as well.
The countdown is on and let’s just hope that this dreadful Coronavirus is contained so the world will get to witness what could well be the most mouth-watering 46 seconds we have ever seen.
Go Kyle! ??❤???❤?