Tokyo Olympics 2021: Men’s 4x100 freestyle final, Kyle Chalmers leads Australians

Kyle Chalmers has thrown down the gauntlet to two American rivals after the 4x100m relay set the scene for a gripping battle for the 100m swimming crown.

Kyle Chalmers’s electrifying anchor leg of the 4x100m freestyle relay snatched a rousing come-from-behind bronze medal for Australia and hurled down the gauntlet to American juggernaut Caeleb Dressel ahead of their heavyweight showdown for the individual sprint crown at the Tokyo Olympics.

Australia looked dead in the water, flailing away in sixth place, before Chalmers went like the clappers in the fastest split of anyone in the high-voltage race, posting the fifth-fastest split in history and lifting his ecstatic and ever-so-grateful teammates onto the podium. Big picture, Chalmers proved it was game on versus Dressel for the blue-ribbon sprint title.

“It’s really special,” Chalmers said after riding the high of Ariarne Titmus’s monumental 400m freestyle triumph to give Australia a relay medal no one saw coming.

“I felt good. Just one race at a time. It’s good to get two (including the heat) done now. To get another Olympic medal with your mates is nice. There’s nothing better.”

Chalmers’s split of 46.44sec monstered Dressel’s 47.26, even if their times couldn’t be directly compared because Dressel swam the lead-off leg, always slower.

It was more the matter of how they swam. Chalmers ploughed along like a human tug boat but Dressel was thrashing around by comparison in what looked a bit of a panic. Chalmers looked comfortable, but Dressel looked rushed, as if he was trying too hard to post a time that would make a statement.

Caeleb Dressel is one of Kyle Chalmers’ main 100m rivals.

Kyle Chalmers produced a blistering time in the relay.

The 100m freestyle heats commence on Tuesday night. The final is slated for Thursday morning. American Zach Apple looms as another threat after posting 46.69sec against Chalmers in the last mad dash to the wall on Monday.

Apple looked more authoritative than Dressel, but the latter remains the man to beat after winning the 2017 and 2019 world titles since Chalmers’s Olympic victory at Rio in 2016. Chalmers proved if he goes down to Dressel or anyone else in Tokyo, it’ll be swinging.

Ian Thorpe said in commentary: “This medal was not expected for us. This was for a bronze medal but gee, Kyle Chalmers loves the Olympics and loves to race. He loves to be set a task.”

Zach Apple powered the victorious US team home in the relay.

The American team of Dressel, Blake Pieroni, Bowen Becker and Apple clocked 3min 08.97sec to comfortably grab gold from Italy. Australia was closer to last than the podium until Chalmers mowed through the field. Sixth to fifth to fourth and then to third with his final breath and outstretched hand.

Chalmers said he was revved up by Titmus’s epic triumph over US legend Katie Ledecky in one of the greatest races ever seen in an Olympic pool.

“We were in the warm-up pool going through the motions a bit,” Chalmers said. “Then we stood up and watched Arnie win that gold medal. It boosts your energy levels and I know it really helped me race well today. Seeing an Australian winning an Olympic gold medal and beating one of the greatest swimmers of all time – it’s really inspiring to watch.”

CHALMERS SOUNDS WARNING IN JAW-DROPPING RELAY SWIM

A scintillating last lap by Kyle Chalmers has won Australia a stunning bronze medal in the mens 4x100m relay to complete a thrilling finals session in the pool.

Chalmers dived into the water when Australia was in sixth place and he brilliantly reeled in team after team.

In the final 10m the US team was well ahead and destined for the gold medal, leaving Italy, Australia and Canada to fight for the two remaining podium places.

Chalmers put his head down and fought his way to the wall, clocking a split time of 46.44s to just nudge out the Canadians to claim third.

“To get another Olympic medal with your mates is nice — there’s nothing better,’’ Chalmers said.

Let's also not ignore Kyle Chalmers splitting a 46.44 to get bronze for Australia. That's NASTY.

— Kyle Sockwell (@kylesockwell) July 26, 2021

Kyle Chalmers 46.44s relay split is exceptional but don’t rule out US Zach Apple who did 46.69s split & could be a sneaky chance in 100 free individual.

— Todd Balym (@balymt) July 26, 2021

The team of Matthew Temple, Zac Incerti, Alexander Graham and Chalmers had been considered rank outsiders for a medal.

However, the Australian team has been inspired by the gold medal victory of Ariarne Titmus and a bronze to Emma McKeon, none more so than Chalmers.

“We were in the warm up pool going through the motions a bit then we stood up and watched Arnie win that gold medal,’’ said Chalmers.

“It boosts your energy levels and I know it really helped me race well today.

“Seeing an Australian winning an Olympic gold medal and beating one of the greatest swimmers of all time it’s really inspiring to watch.”

Zak Incerti, Alexander Graham, Matt Temple and Kyle Chalmers win bronze at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Picture: Adam Head.

Chalmers’ split time was faster even that the American anchor Zac Apple and sets up a tense battle for the men’s individual freestyle events.

To put the swim into context, Chalmers was the fastest swimmer in the entire relay race, and is one of the fastest relay splits of all time, not including the now outlawed bodysuits.

Kyle Chalmers lifted Australia into the medals. Picture: Alex Coppel.

Ian Thorpe told Channel 7: “This one was not … expected for us.

“Those men have stepped up to be able to deliver a performance at the Olympics.

“The American team is expected to win this one. And in a way it was a dominant swim from the US. The Italians did well but so did the French.

“The way that Kyle Chalmers came home, 46.44. So we looked at his swim that he did in the heats – 46.63 – which put him in 10th top times in the world for a relay changeover.

“So that one actually puts him with Alan Bernard at the fifth fastest split for a relay.”

Leisel Jones told Channel 7: “That anchor relay, it really is a tough job.

“It’s really hard when you are a little bit behind as well that you have so much work to catch up.

“Kyle Chalmers can take a lot of confidence out of that swim moving into individual swims and just performing under pressure in a relay like this, when you see swimmers next to you diving off the blocks before you, you know that you have so much work to do.

“Really impressive swim. And coming back in that last 50, he just looked so strong.”

Originally published as Tokyo Olympics 2021: Men’s 4x100 freestyle final, Kyle Chalmers leads Australians