‘In tears’: Kyle Chalmers reveals devastating detail after Commonwealth Games drama

Swimming champion Kyle Chalmers says he wants to leave the Commonwealth Games after revealing tragic details in his 12 hours of hell.

Australian swimmer Kyle Chalmers. Photo by Michael Klein.

Kyle Chalmers says he wants to leave the Commonwealth Games.

The Aussie swimming champ said he is considering his future in the sport in another devastating development to the storm that has surrounded him in Birmingham.

After swimming in the heats of the men’s 100m freestyle on Sunday night (AEST) — where he moved through to the semi-finals — Chalmers said the previous 12 hours had been the toughest of his career.

Chalmers turned a flamethrower on the media following his lightning swim in helping Australia to win the 4x100m freestyle relay on Sunday morning.

However, his post-race interview quickly became focused on the drama surrounding his relationships with Olympic legend Emma McKeon and pop star turned swimmer Cody Simpson.

Chalmers, McKeon and Simpson have all rejected suggestions there is any friction at all between them.

The Rio Olympics 100m freestyle champion also took to social media in the early hours of Sunday morning local time where he said he is at “breaking point” as a result of the impact the drama in Birmingham has had on his mental health.

He has now revealed the devastating toll the situation has had on himself and his family.

When asked how he feels after the 100m freestyle heat, Chalmers responded:

“Terrible. Terrible. It’s been probably the hardest 12 hours in my sporting career for sure.

“It is extremely hard. Extremely challenging. When you’re on the other side of the world and don’t have your direct support network around you it’s already hard enough, let alone last night.”

Kyle Chalmers warms up in Birmingham. Photo by Michael Klein.

He was referring to his post-race press conference, which was stopped after a barrage of questions about his dynamic with Simpson and McKeon.

He said the way the situation has unfolded left his mum in tears when they spoke after the relay victory.

“I really feel I don’t deserve any of that and to be honest with you, it makes me question why I do this sport and where my future lies going forward,” he said.

“I don’t want any of this. I swim because it’s what I’m good at. I love swimming. I love being part of the Australian swimming team. Standing up in front of big crowds and swimming fast, but I don’t want the rest of it.

“And for me it’s taking too much of a toll on my mental health. It embarrasses me that my family, my grandparents have to sit down and read the stuff that gets put in the media.

“It upsets me that I have to go home to my mum crying on FaceTime to me.”

He said he barely slept overnight and nearly didn’t return to the pool on Sunday.

“For me it took every bit of courage to get out of bed this morning and actually stand on the blocks,” he said.

“Like I said it took every bit of courage to stand up and race. I just want to be on a plane home and be done with it all. It’s just so very overwhelming and upsetting.”

He said he reached a “tipping point” with his mental health following the Australian Swimming Championships in May. He also reiterated there is no friction between himself and McKeon.

Kyle Chalmers of Australia looks on as athletes congratulate each other following the Men's 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay Final. AAP Image/Dave Hunt.

“It’s not even a true thing. Emma and I are great friends,” he said.

“We’ve been friends since 2015. We’ve been great support. She inspires me. She’s a person who’s inspired me every step of my professional career.

“Like I said last night, Cody is another guy who I’ve been inspired by what he’s achieved in the last two years and it’s an honour to share the team with both of them.”

Moments earlier, Chalmers spoke to Aussie legend Cate Campbell on the pool deck for Channel 7.

He described the situation as “heartbreaking”.

Chalmers revealed he had received a strong show of support from his teammates since the press conference.

“The team has been amazing especially after last night, as much as this morning I just want to put my headphones in and switch off and not talk, all of my teammates, coaches and staff coming up and saying they are there for me has been really special,” he said.

“I wouldn’t have been able to get through it without my teammates over this last little period.

“As much as the media want to make up (that) there is conflict on the team, there is zero, we’re such a tight team, as you know, we’ve been away for such a long time now we are like brothers and sisters. I enjoy being part of the team, I enjoy being a senior part of the team. I hope this time I’ve been able to inspire and help a lot of the younger guys on the team to get through to this point.”

Speaking about the impacts of harsh media scrutiny, he continued: “Exactly like you said just there, I’m not a robot. We have feelings, we have emotions, we’re no different than anyone else.

“We struggle a lot, mental health is a huge thing in sport, a huge thing that’s impacted my career and a lot of others on the team.”

Earlier, Aussie icon Thorpe sent a message to Chalmers after the Aussie swimming champion’s explosive press conference on Sunday morning (AEST).

It was an extraordinary end to Australia’s golden night, which also included a gold medal for McKeon, Shayna Jack, Madi Wilson and Mollie O’Callaghan in the women’s 4x100m freestyle relay. In the Birmingham pool, it emerged:

— Chalmers insisted he did congratulate McKeon on the pool deck following their mixed relay victory.

— Chalmers said he and Simpson speak regularly and will “chat tonight” after the South Australian superfish helped Simpson win his first ever Commonwealth gold medal.

— The 24-year-old appeared to call one reporter a “keyboard warrior”.

— McKeon said she and Chalmers did shake hands after the race; and

— Chalmers said he will soon walk away from media commitments on mental health grounds if things don’t change. He also suggested he could walk away from the sport as a result.