SYDNEY, April 7 – Australian swimming star Kyle Chalmers dominated the field to capture the 100-meter freestyle championship at the Australian Open swimming meet on Monday, then shared his ambitious goal of securing an Olympic relay gold medal in 2028.
The 27-year-old swimmer from South Australia boasts an impressive medal collection, though only one Olympic gold – the individual 100m freestyle title he claimed as an 18-year-old at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Despite earning two bronze medals and one silver in the 4×100 relay across three Olympic Games, the former world champion dreams of defeating the United States on home soil in Los Angeles.
“I’d love a gold medal in a relay,” Chalmers said to Code Sports following his victory in the premier sprint event with a time of 48.39 seconds.
“To go to a fourth Olympics and get a gold medal in that relay that would be, for me, the ultimate success at this point.
“And I say that truthfully and honestly, I love that relay and if we were able to win it, I think it would be amazing.”
Chalmers sees the potential addition of 50m world record holder Cam McEvoy to Australia’s relay squad as crucial for challenging American dominance. The United States has claimed the 4×100 freestyle relay title at the past three Olympic Games.
McEvoy has been absent from relay competition for five years, but Chalmers expressed willingness to surrender the anchor position if it would convince the 31-year-old to rejoin the team effort.
“If it was to work out, I feel like we would be a very good chance of beating America at their home Olympics, which on night number one … would set the team up for an amazing week in the pool,” Chalmers explained.
The majority of competitors at the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre are focusing on upcoming competitions, including this year’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and the Pan Pacific Championships scheduled for California.
World champion Mollie O’Callaghan claimed the women’s 100m freestyle title on Monday with a time of 52.66 seconds, while Olympic champion and world record holder Kaylee McKeown dominated the 200m backstroke in 2 minutes, 5.66 seconds.
In men’s distance events, former world champion Sam Short captured the 400m freestyle in 3:42.53, finishing nearly four seconds ahead of Paris Olympics silver medalist Elijah Winnington, who touched in 3:46.36.
Competition at the championships runs through Wednesday. Australian selection trials for the Commonwealth Games and Pan Pacific Championships are scheduled for June 7-13 at Sydney Olympic Park.
