Rio Olympics: Five things you didn’t know about Aussie gold medallist Kyle Chalmers

GET to know Australian teenage swimming sensation and Olympic gold medallist Kyle Chalmers.

GET to know Australian teenage swimming sensation and Olympic gold medallist Kyle Chalmers.

1. Kyle Chalmers turned his back on dreams of becoming an AFL star by committing his future to swimming two years ago. His father Brett was a ruckman for Port Adelaide and Adelaide during a 75-game career. Kyle Chalmers actually broke his wrist playing Aussie Rules for his school team last year while preparing to make his international swim debut at the world titles in Kazan. He has since been banned from playing any level of football but still carries a Sherrin footy with him wherever he travels.

Kyle Chalmers during the Australian Olympic Games Official Uniform Launch. Photo: Brett Hemmings/Getty Images for Adidas

2. Chalmers has been dubbed the “next Thorpedo” ever since he broke his first national age record in 2012 in the 13 years and under 100m freestyle. He holds every Australian age record in this event, adding the final piece of the puzzle when he broke Cameron McEvoy’s 18-years record, which doubled as the World Junior Record, in the heats here at the Olympic Games.

Kyle Chalmers, James Roberts, James Manussen, and Cameron McEvoy with their Bronze Medal. Picture: Alex Coppel.

3. Chalmers has modelled his racing style on the great Ian Thorpe, powering home over the final 50m to surge past his rivals in the final 25m of the race. Chalmers explained he likes to play to his strengths and knows he can hold his top end speed for longer than anyone else in the race.

Olympian Kyle Chalmers tosses the coin at a footy match between Lincoln South and Marble Range.

4. Considered the next king of world sprinting, he was nicknamed “Prince” Chalmers by Cameron McEvoy’s coach Richard Scarce when he first arrived on the Australian swim team. But his demeanour and attitude has also spawned another nickname in Rio, with “No dramas Chalmers” surely fitting for a teen who has shown no nerves in the Olympic arena. And then of course there’s those who call him the “Big Tuna” because he hails from popular fishing town of Port Lincoln in South Australia.

Australia's Kyle Chalmers.

5. Chalmers is a Year 12 student at Immanuel College — Lleyton Hewitt’s former school. He studies at home and completes work online around the world to fit in with his busy swimming schedule. He achieved an A+ merit for Year 12 while he was still in Year Ten and will graduate at the end of the year. This year he has concentrated on his Olympics preparations and doing work experience at the Port Adelaide AFL club, where is an ambassador.

Australia's Kyle Chalmers prepares to compete in the Men's 100m Freestyle Semifinal.

Originally published as Rio Olympics: Five things you didn’t know about Aussie gold medallist Kyle Chalmers