New Doors Have Opened for Kyle Chalmers, Evidenced by Sub-23 Marker in 50 Butterfly
Throughout his career, Kyle Chalmers has primarily been associated with the 100-meter freestyle, an event in which he has captured Olympic gold and claimed a world championship. The Australian has routinely produced performances in the 47-low range and when the World Championships are held in Singapore this summer, Chalmers will be a factor in the medals chase in the 100 free.
Over the past year, however, Chalmers has reinvented himself, adding high-profile efforts to his career ledger in the 50-meter sprints of freestyle and butterfly. Just last week, as Australia conducted its Trials for the World Champs, Chalmers delivered a pair of personal-best times in the 50 freestyle (21.68) and 50 butterfly (22.89). The butterfly showing was not far off the Oceania record of 22.73, set in 2009 by Matt Targett.
Working with coach Shaun Curtis, Chalmers has clearly enhanced his speed and is enjoying a stretch where his body is as healthy as it has been in several years. With the International Olympic Committee adding the 50-meter stroke events at the 2028 Games in Los Angeles, the 50 butterfly offers Chalmers an additional event to pursue in an extended career and a discipline he has long loved.
“I think the 50 fly will definitely be part of (my) LA program,” Chalmers said. “I’ve achieved everything the 100 freestyle has to offer so it is really nice to have a different goal to think about. In 2014, I finished second at Trials and it would’ve been the first team I qualified for if they were taking 50 swimmers back then. I’ve always wanted to swim butterfly and it would be nice to go back to the stroke I started swimming and probably even my strongest stroke.”
That Chalmers considers the butterfly his strongest stroke, particularly given what he has achieved in freestyle, speaks to his growing confidence and belief that much more remains for the future Hall of Fame inductee. This summer, when Chalmers clashes with the likes of Ilya Kharun and Maxime Grousset in the 50 fly, we’ll have an idea of where he stands on the global stage. If nothing else, Chalmers has shown he is gaining speed in both the 50 fly and 50 free.
“This swim was so good for my confidence, but my body is now allowing me to do that,” Chalmers said of the 50 butterfly. “It’s a demanding stroke to train but my shoulders and the rest of my body are feeling really good right now.”
Opening new doors.