Short course championships a springboard to Gold Coast Comm Games for Olympic gold medallist Kyle Chalmers

IN his first major competition after heart surgery, Rio Olympics gold medallist Kyle Chalmers is just looking forward to being back in the pool as he sets his sights on next year’s Commonwealth Games.

Australian swimmer Kyle Chalmers trains at the SA Aquatic Centre and Leisure Centre on Wednesday ahead of the Australian Short Course Swimming Championships. Picture: AAP Image/David Mariuz

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RIO Olympics 100m freestyle gold medallist Kyle Chalmers will use this week’s hometown national short course championships as an important springboard to next year’s Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.

Chalmers, who missed this year’s world championships because of heart surgery, will have a hectic meet and is prepared for the favouritism he brings to the pool.

To him, the main thing is just that he’s back racing at a major competition.

“It is important,” Chalmers, 19, said at training on Wednesday morning ahead of the championships that start on Thursday.

“I haven’t done a whole lot of training leading into this; I’ve been back in the pool for probably three months now which obviously isn’t a big block.

“So I haven’t really tapered down or recovered for this meet.

“I guess the Comm Games is the pinnacle of sport almost until Tokyo (the next summer Olympics).

“That’s what I’m training for now and this comp for me is just getting back in the pool racing.”