Kyle Chalmers goes for Paris Olympics gold in 100m freestyle

With Kyle Chalmers gunning for gold in the 100m freestyle at the Paris Olympics, his swimming rivals have been trying to get under the Australian star’s skin.

Kyle Chalmers in action during the Semi-Final of the Mens 100m Freestyle at the Paris La Defense Arena Picture: Adam Head

Moments before Kyle Chalmers walked out to book his spot in the Olympic 100m freestyle final, Chinese world record holder Pan Zhanle tried flattery to unsettle the Australian superstar.

It didn’t work. If there is one swimmer who has proven over almost a decade-long career that he is impervious to mind games it is the 27-year-old South Australian.

Brit Matthew Richards tried a similar tactic ahead of last year’s world titles final and Chalmers went on to win his first individual long course world title. Now Pan, the teenage Chinese superstar who almost choked in the heats to cost himself a chance at glory, has picked a battle with the Australian fighter he may live to regret.

“Pan the Chinese boy straight before we walked out said ‘oh, you’re my idol. And I love, love, love watching you’. So that was kind of crazy,” he said.

Kyle Chalmers is going for gold in the 100m freestyle at the Paris Olympics. Picture: Adam Head

“I think obviously their probably first Olympic experience (to watch) is almost my gold medal in Rio.

“So to be inspiring this next generation of 100m freestylers and still being able to match them a little bit is nice.”

He will start the final as the second fastest qualifier in lane five after Pan burst home late to set the fastest semi-final time of 47.21s. Chalmers knows there are three swimmers in the Olympic final with faster personal best times than his. But none of them boast the big race experience he has built over three Olympic Games.

With slow times being produced to win gold medals at the shallow ‘Paris puddle’ at La Defense Arena, the race will come down to the final 25m.

That scenario is tailor made for a trademark ‘Big Tuna’ finish by Chalmers who has added supreme underwater skills to his weaponry since he won the silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics.

Kyle Chalmers will start the 100m freestyle final as the second fastest qualifier. Pic: Michael Klein

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He is aiming to become the first man since Russian great Alexander Popov to medal in the 100m freestyle at three successive Olympic Games.

He knows how to perform in a big final - no one in the final has delivered a performance of note when the gold medal is on the line and the field is fully stacked.

“I think there’s a lot of pressure and expectation that people put on themselves. It’s the Olympic Games. A lot of people haven’t swum at an Olympics before so I think there’s that nervous energy having 17,000 people in the crowd is crazy,” Chalmers said.

“I personally love it but I think people do definitely crack under that pressure.

“I don’t think it matters about time at the Olympic Games. I think it’s proven over the first three nights of competition that it’s whoever gets a hand on the wall first. And that’s what he’s remembered in history.

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“Maybe swimming fans remember times, but average punters just remember who won the gold medal or who won medals. So that’s all that matters to me.

“Knowing that it’s an Olympic final and the medals are on the line is what’s going to get me over the line and make me swim a whole lot faster.”

Originally published as Kyle Chalmers goes for Paris Olympics gold in 100m freestyle