King Kyle’s Comm Games reality check could end LA dream
Kyle Chalmers has long been Australia’s sprint king, but a fresh young talent has left the superstar swimmer contemplating what his future looks like.
Chalmers’ 47.74 in the men’s 100m freestyle final at the Commonwealth Games ended his nine-year winning streak over his Australian teammates on Wednesday (AEST), with Flynn Southam taking the gold (47.13).
Chalmers reacts after touching in third Getty Images
Southam is the first Australian to defeat Chalmers, who was forced to settle for bronze, in his pet event at an international meet since 2017. Wales’ Matt Richards clinched silver.
The 21-year-old Southam has looked in top form over the course of the Games in Glasgow and delivered sensationally to win the gold.
Southam’s time of 47.09 in the 4x100m freestyle relay last week gave Chalmers a warning shot and the young gun followed through in the individual event.
While many still favoured Chalmers to win gold on Thursday — he admitted he thought he would do exactly that — Southam set the record straight for all those who felt he was purely a relay swimmer.
“I had a lot of people doubting me and saying my successes only came from relays,” he told reporters after the race.
“That’s really pissed me off and motivated me to be the best in the world.”
Just two years out from the Olympic Games in Los Angeles, Southam has instilled hope into those watching the next generation of swimmers coming through.
Chalmers, on the other hand, is keeping an open mind to the possibility that he may not be racing in Los Angeles, even if he “desperately wants to be”.
“I would love to get to that point (in 2028), but I’m also a realist and know that what is important to me now is my wife and daughter,” Chalmers, who has an 11-month-old daughter, said after the final.
“I really feel that I’ve won in life by having them. If I don’t get to that point, I’m not going to be disappointed. I have to be a realist at this point in my career, too.
“I’ve been able to hold (Southam) off for quite a few years now, but he’s 21 years old and in the peak of his career ... I’m so proud of him. That’s when I was swimming my personal best time, so I know that I’m getting older.
Flynn Southam (gold) and Kyle Chalmers (bronze) during the Australian national anthem. Getty Images
“I’m not an 18-year-old kid that’s coming on and got no other things on in life.
“I don’t wanna be a selfish parent. I want to be there for her and work out what is the best possible thing. I don’t mean that in any other way.”
Chalmers will be 30 at the next Olympic Games. Southam will be 23.
It seems the end is near for Australia’s superstar.
Chalmers, who shocked the world to win the 100m freestyle gold medal at the Rio Olympics in 2018, will not be part of Australia’s team competing at the Pan Pacific Championships next month, although nor will Southam.
The next major international meet for Chalmers will likely be the World Cup series later this year or the world championships in Budapest in 2027.
