Aussie Sprint King Kyle Chalmers Blasts Out A 47.29 To Win 100m Freestyle; Flynn Southam second in 47.69
Sprint king Kyle Chalmers says he’s training smarter, his body is feeling better than ever, he’s the happiest he’s ever been and the triple Olympic medallist is swimming faster after clocking 47.29 to win the 100m freestyle, the quickest he’s ever swum in Australia.
And the 26-year-old Chalmers has been inspired by his hometown crowd who turned out to cheer on their man at the SA Aquatic And Leisure Centre pool.
Kyle Chalmers and Flynn Southam post 47s. Photo Courtesy Delly Carr Swimming Australia
Chalmers has been the major drawcard at this meet, celebrating his 10th year on the Australian Dolphins swim team and his 14th Trials meet.
And tonight the master blaster of Australian swimming blasted his way through two laps of his pool getting ready to take the next crop of youngsters along for the ride of their lives.
Commonwealth Games and Olympic relay medallist Flynn Southam (Bond) charged home for second in 47.69 snatching the other individual spot in the blue ribband event with Paris 200m finalist Max Giuliani (TSS Aquatic, QLD) third home in 48.34 also under the QT.
Fourth was Kai Taylor (St Peters Western, QLD) in 48.37, who claims a relay spot followed by 200m butterfly winner Harrison Turner (Nudgee, QLD) 48.43 and 28-year-old Tokyo and Paris relay medallist Zac Incerti(USC Spartans, QLD) sixth in 48.66.
Chalmers reflecting on his journey.
“It doesn’t feel like it was that long ago when I was arriving here for London 2012 Trials. And I remember standing…next to Geoff Huegill and I got stage fright…” said Chalmers.
“Your swimming career goes so quickly, and I think you’ve just got to slow down and enjoy it. That’s why I’m here, backing up racing year after year, and I’m desperate to be here because you don’t know when it’s going to end.
“It’s been a long time since my body’s felt this good, if ever in my career, I’m doing less, I’m having fun, and probably not as stressed about doing things away from the pool as well. Like I’d go building, but I’d be cautious about doing stuff.
“Now, I’m just doing whatever I want to do, and it seems to be working. I’ve seen the physio twice this whole year, compared to the lead up to Tokyo I was seeing the physio every single day, if not twice a day.
“So it’s been an amazing turnaround, and I’m stoked my body’s feeling this good and that’s why I want to capitalise on it while I can because I know it’s not going to feel this good forever.”
Flynn Southam pleased to get it done. Photo Courtesy Delly Carr Swimming Australia
“It’s incredible to swim the fastest I’ve ever swam in Australia. It’s so good coming out, and seeing familiar faces up in the crowd, there’s a massive crowd here tonight, so it makes it a whole lot easier for me to do my job when there’s so much to support in the stands”
“I’m just trusting what I’ve been doing in training listening to all my coaches, trusting that we’ve done the work and everything we’ve been doing is just focusing on a personal best time, we were very close to tonight.”
Southam said his was a pretty awesome swim, I’m super happy, I’ve got to thank my coaches Chris Mooney and Kyle Samuelson and my whole support team. They’ve really got me through the past couple of years. It’ been tough”
“Being a really good age grouper and coming through and transitioning. It hasn’t been easy, but it’s worth the journey and it’s all about the ups and downs and who you become a long way, so I’m stoked to be back.
“I stopped thinking that I’m 100m or 200m swimmer, I just started thinking myself as a sprint freestyle and the work we’ve done has proved that.”