SA’s golden boy Kyle Chalmers salutes grand charmers

SOUTH Australia’s Kyle Chalmers’ fabulous 100m freestyle win at the Rio Olympics has made him a household name - but he reckons his grandparents are the real superstars.

SOUTH Australia’s Kyle Chalmers’ fabulous 100m freestyle win at the Rio Olympics has made him a household name - but he reckons his grandparents are the real superstars.

Their reaction to his victory in Olympic swimming’s glamour event was charmed the world, and Chalmers told Triple M’s Roo and Ditts radio show that an on-film kiss between Malcolm and Julie Bagnell had made them celebrities.

“To see that video on Facebook go viral was incredible ... I actually haven’t been able to speak to them since I won because they’ve been busy with media requests ... and people wanting to catch up and celebrate with them,” Chalmers joked.

Chalmers also revealed he had not given himself much chance of winning the 100m final.

“I didn’t think I was capable ... at all to be honest with you,” he told Roo and Ditts.

“I had the reigning Olympic champion (Nathan Adrian of the US) next to me, I had Cameron McEvoy - who’s the fastest man in the world this year and the world record holder in a textile suit - also in the race and plenty of other big guns that have gone faster than me so I was just stoked to be swimming in the final - and knew I had to go out there and enjoy it and swim my own race. “

Celebrities ... Kyle Chalmers’ grandparents, Malcolm and Julie Bagnell, at their Port Lincoln home . Picture: Robert Lang

Chalmers revealled what swimming his own race meant ... not that the world didn’t see it demonstrated in the astounding charge home in the final.

“Races aren’t won in the first 50 (m) - which is my motto - so I cruise on the way out ... make sure that I’m as close to the boys as I can be on the turn. Then I try my best to get the best turn possible, and then I come home strong, which is my strength.”

Chalmers said he wasn’t delighted with the nickname “The Big Tuna” but “I guess I’ll just have to cop it on the chin.”

He said he was looking forward to going home to Port Lincoln to see friends and family but first planned to play the fan at the Olympics.

“The next eight days I’ll be trying to meet as many celebrities as possible around the village and get a few photos with them,” he said.

And when finally does home there will be two other celebrities waiting.

Originally published as SA’s golden boy Kyle Chalmers salutes grand charmers