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Kyle Chalmers has never really enjoyed the show business side of swimming.

As one of Australia’s greatest-ever freestyle sprinters, set to take next year’s Paris Olympics by storm, it’s an occupational hazard he can’t escape because what he does in the pool is out of this world.

But it’s not really his thing.

Truth be known, Chalmers would prefer to be at the footy or fishing or just hanging out with his mates than in the spotlight.

So last year, when he got caught up in a media storm that almost made him contemplate giving up swimming, he made a life-changing decision that plenty of people think about but few do.

He decided to focus on what makes him happy, so got himself a normal day job, and the results have been incredible, both in and out of the water.

“I think I‘ve re-found myself,” he said.

“I‘m having a lot of fun in the pool, but having a lot more fun out of the pool, which is massively contributing to my success.

“It‘s made me really enjoy the sport again and love it and probably re-found my passion and reason why I’m doing it.”

TAKING UP THE TOOLS

The occupation Chalmers chose to earn a bit of extra crust was somewhat a surprise, though not to those who know him best.

Already used to hard work in his day job as a swimmer, he was never interested in a 9-5 office job, so he decided to join his great mate Matt Temple and take up the tools, working as a construction labourer.

Anything but a fish out of water, Chalmers has been thriving in his new environment, already figuring out what he wants to do next after putting his muscles to good use while getting to working outside in the Adelaide sunshine.

“I‘ve always had that question of what are you going to do after swimming? That’s something that I’ve quite struggled with in the past, not knowing where I’m going to go,” he said.

“But this year, I started just working on a job site a couple days a week just in construction. And I think just kind of making some new friends away from the pool.

“I‘ve never worked a day in my life apart from swimming, which I think is great because my job is the best gig in the world but at some point I’m going to have to transition into the real world.

“Being able to put myself out there in that world where I‘m the bottom of the ranks in an industry I love and I’m passionate about.

“I love nothing more than going to work and I think it‘s making me a whole lot happier in the pool.”

ONE YEAR OUT

With one year to go to the Paris Olympics, Chalmers is perfectly positioned. His results so far this season all point to him being in a great place.

At the Australian trials, he won the 100m freestyle final in a swift 47.44 seconds, the second fastest time in the world this year.

The 24-year-old knows he will have to go even quicker to win gold at the world championships in Fukuoka, Japan, but he has gone as low as 47.08 before.

Already an Olympic, Commonwealth Games and shortcourse (25m pool) world champion, the long course (50m pool) world title is the one remaining achievement left on his bucket list.

With his great American rival Caeleb Dressel absent, Chalmers is one of the favourites but still faces a formidable challenge from the two 18-year-olds taking on the old guard.

Romania’s David Popovici is the defending champion and world record holder (46.86) while China’s Pan Zhanle (47.22) is ranked No. 1 this year.

“I‘ve been so excited, so energised. I feel like I’m a 17 year old kid again rocking up to race,” said Chalmers, who won the silver medal at the 2019 world championships but missed 2027 because of injury and skipped his pet event in 2022.

“I‘ve been around the mark for quite some time now and a world championship gold medal is something that’s evaded me or whatever the word is throughout my career.

“It‘s something that I’m desperate to do before my time is done.”

Chalmers’ career best time is 47.08, which he swam at the 2019 world titles and again at 2021 Olympics.

On each occasion, he improved on his times from the trials so is confident he can make another leap in Fukuoka.

“I‘m right around the mark when I swam my best time,” he said.

“I‘ve been able to learn how to do that short turnaround from trials to the major competition now, and I feel like I’m able to get a really good block in over this next little period and swim faster than that. That’s what I pride myself on doing, is swimming faster at the major comps.

“This time last year I thought I was done. I re-evaluated, I really found myself and re-found my love and passion for the sport.”

Veteran coach Michael Bohl said a happy Chalmers augured well for the whole Australian team.

“I think the group gets strength from that. He‘s a very good leader, especially with the guys in the relay team,” Bohl said.

“You can‘t accidentally win an Olympic gold medal. He did it. Almost did it again. So he’s got that experience.

“It‘s very good to have someone who’s a heavy hitter on your team. It gives you confidence going into the battle.”