SA School Sport Awards: Four-time winner Kyle Chalmers gets behind relaunch inspiring rising stars
Before he was an Olympic champion, Kyle Chalmers dominated SA’s School Sports. Now the awards are back and Chalmers is getting behind the next generation of stars.
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Olympic Gold Medallist Kyle Chalmers can recall how he felt winning his very first Messenger School Sports Awards crown.
It was 2010 and the rising star claimed the primary section of the awards after
dominating junior carnivals while living in Port Lincoln.
Chalmers went on to win gold in the 100m freestyle at the Rio Olympic Games in 2016, as well as two bronze medals as part of Australian relay squads.
The Messenger spoke with Chalmers this week ahead of the launch of the The Advertiser, Messenger and Department of Education School Sports Awards 2020.
He said being recognised as part of the School Sports Awards helped him decide to focus on swimming and try to make a career out of the sport.
“I remember flying over to Adelaide from Port Lincoln which was a big thing for me back then,” Chalmers said.
“It was an amazing feeling.
“I was an extremely nervous, young, shy kid, and having to get up and accept the award, I remember how nerve-wrecking that was for me.
“But I guess looking back on that, it was definitely a step in the right direction in regards to public speaking and realising I was achieving great things in swimming.
“At that stage I was doing quite a number of sports and swimming was just another sport for me.
“But to be recognised for being an elite swimmer, I guess planted that in my mind that it was something I should look to pursue moving forward.”
The now 22-year-old was crowned the School Sports Award winner again the next year, before going on to claim the award in the secondary section twice.
Chalmers, who is part of Marion Swimming Club, does not have his School Sports Awards trophies or Olympic medals on display, saying remaining “humble” is a big part of his success.
Rising swim star and North Adelaide Primary School student Khai Tran, meanwhile, has been nominated for this year’s School Sports Awards.
Khai, who is a member of Henley and Grange Swimming Club, met Chalmers earlier this week.
The rising breaststroke star won seven medals – including three gold – at the SA Junior Short Course Championships last month.
The results were a shock to Khai, who is also a keen soccer player with West Adelaide Hellas, having only started swimming competitively a year and a half ago.
The North Adelaide Primary School Year 7 is proud to be nominated for a School Sport Award.
“I just wanted to try swimming as I kind of liked it,” Khai, 12, said,
“The SA Short Course was really fun.
“It felt good winning those medals and it feels good to be nominated for a School Sport Award.”
The School Sports Awards recognise and reward the outstanding sporting achievements of young people in our community.
They are joint initiative of The Advertiser, The Messenger and the Department for Education.
There will be three major award categories in 2020 – individual female and male, rural and metropolitan, primary and secondary with eight finalists awards.
Young people between the ages of 10 and 18 who are enrolled in an SA primary or secondary school are eligible to be nominated.
To nominate, head to online.forms.sa.edu.au/content/forms/af/public/school-sports-awards-nomination.html
The winners will be announced in December.
