Kyle Chalmers qualifies second fastest for men’s 100m freestyle final
AUSTRALIAN teen sensation Kyle Chalmers looms as the shock gold medal contender for the men’s 100m freestyle after qualifying second fastest.
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AUSTRALIAN teen sensation Kyle Chalmers looms as the shock gold medal contender for the men’s 100m freestyle after qualifying second fastest for tomorrow’s final behind reigning Olympic champ Nathan Adrian.
Chalmers has put himself in a position nobody expected just six months ago, on the verge of fighting for Olympic gold and with the rest of the world looking over their shoulder.
Chalmers was second fastest in 47.88s from the semi-finals, just behind USA’s Adrian in 47.83s while Australian teammate and world No. 1 Cameron McEvoy was equal third quickest in 47.93s with Canada’s Santo Condorelli.
China’s world champion Ning Zetao, who served a doping ban in 2011, missed the final in 12th place with a time of 48.37s.
Chalmers admitted he has exceeded his own expectations but hoped for one final blast tomorrow that could produce the shock of the Games.
“It’s very exciting and I probably didn’t expect to get through to that final and especially with that time,” Chalmers said.
Australia will have two serious individual gold medal chances tomorrow after Madeline Groves qualified fastest for the 200m butterfly in 2:05.66, with WA’s Brianna Throssell also into the final in seventh place with a time of 2:07.19.
Groves, who has the fastest time in the world this year, is ready to replicate her start to finish tactics to try to break the hearts of her rivals in the final.
“I really enjoy getting out there really fast and putting pressure on myself and other girls through the first 100m,” Groves said.
Originally published as Kyle Chalmers qualifies second fastest for men’s 100m freestyle final
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