Australia’s team manager even got Durant to record a special message for Chalmers prior to his 100-meter freestyle final.
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Kyle Chalmers won the 100m freestyle final on Wednesday, Australia’s first gold in that event in nearly 50 years.
Now, Kyle Chalmers is the king. That part of the race is his office, his playground.
Her West Australian teammate Tamsin Cook, who was backing up after her silver medal-winning performance in the 4x200m freestyle last night, clocked an 8:36.62 to finish 20 overall.
“I was easily able to stand behind the blocks knowing that it was a privilege to be there and knowing that allowed me to enjoy it a lot more”.
“I feel great about getting another medal”, said Adrian, who barely advanced out of the preliminaries but almost pulled off the first back-to-back titles in the 100 since Pieter van den Hoogenband in 2000 and 2004.
At the start of the race, Australia’s medal hopes were actually pinned on Cameron McEvoy who came in a disappointing seventh (48.12). Naturally perplexed yet courageous in defeat, he will try to reset for the 50m event.
Belgium’s Pieter Timmers won the silver medal and defending champion Nathan Adrian of the United States the bronze.
In glorious hindsight, it shouldn’t have arrived as such a shock.
“I received them when my namesake qualified for the Olympics – (but) not as many as I have now”.
Already campaigning in McEvoy’s shadow, he avoided interviews in the lead-up to the Games. He began to stoke up for his signature late rush, hauled in another bull of a man in Adrian and powered to the wall to become Australia’s second youngest swimming gold medallist since Ian Thorpe (17) in Sydney in 2000.
“I don’t think it’s sunk into him yet”. My jaw dropped. I was that excited and nervous.
“That’s all I’ve ever said to him”. “I had so much fun tonight”.
The Year 12 student was named four-time male Champion of the Pool at the college’s 2016 swimming carnival.
Chalmers nearly wrecked his world titles campaign after suffering a broken wrist and torn ankle ligaments in matches.
And, get this, it’s an Australian.
“His world has changed from now on”, Australian swimming’s head coach Jacco Verhaeren said.
“And I’m happy he chose the second one”. “I made the decision to be a swimmer but there’s no regrets now, none at all”.
“I think the whole of Kazakhstan is celebrating right now”, he said of his 200m breaststroke win.
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But he added: “I think down the track at some stage, whether it’s just local comp footy”.
