ADELAIDE: Kyle Chalmers is drawing inspiration from the anticipation of his daughter cheering him on at the upcoming 2028 and 2032 Olympic Games. At the Australian swimming trials, he secured a commendable second place in the men’s 50m freestyle final, achieving a personal best time of 21.68 seconds. This event was won by Cameron McEvoy, who clocked in at 21.30 seconds and is set to compete in the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Both swimmers have qualified for the Singapore World Championships, scheduled for late July, although Chalmers is contemplating focusing on his stronger 100m freestyle event and relays instead of the 50m. He will be competing in the 100m freestyle final on Thursday evening.
Chalmers and his fiancée, Norwegian swimmer Ingeborg Løyning, announced in March that they are expecting a baby girl. He remarked on the new chapter in his life, sharing that it has been a wonderful journey alongside McEvoy, who will also be welcoming a baby boy. Chalmers expressed his excitement about fatherhood when interviewed by retired swimmer Cate Campbell, noting that the prospect of having his daughter in attendance at Olympic events is a powerful motivator.
While he achieved a personal best in the 50m freestyle, Chalmers is not prioritising this event in his training. He is focusing on enhancing his speed in the 100m freestyle, highlighting past challenges with turning performance. He emphasized the importance of preparing for relays, a discipline where he has consistently excelled, most recently contributing to a silver medal in the men’s 4x100m freestyle relay at the Paris Games.
Chalmers concluded with a commitment to balance his personal ambitions with his responsibilities as a relay swimmer, aiming to support his teammates and contribute to their success at future competitions.