Kyle Chalmers Eyes Future After Winning Silver in 100m Freestyle

Australian swimming star Kyle Chalmers has put to rest any whispers about retirement after winning a silver medal in the men’s 100m freestyle final in Paris. Chalmers clocked in at 47.48 seconds, finishing behind China’s Pan Zhanle, who smashed the world record with an incredible time of 46.40 seconds.

Chalmers, who previously won gold in Rio in 2016 and silver in Tokyo 2020, made it clear that he’s not hanging up his goggles just yet. Despite being 26 years old and looking ahead to the next Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028, he said, “This is not my last individual event. I’m not retiring any time soon.”

In his impressive run, Chalmers managed to surge from the back, finishing strong in the final stretch. However, even his remarkable finishing skills couldn’t outpace Pan, whose recent performance was described by former swimming legend Ian Thorpe as “mind-blowing.”

Chalmers wasn’t the only Australian swimmer facing tough competition. Zac Stubblety-Cook also earned a silver medal after competing in the 200m breaststroke final, where he was overcome by French swimmer Leon Marchand, who’s already become a household name in the competition.

Stubblety-Cook acknowledged the fierce atmosphere, likening the experience to a rugby match, saying, “It didn’t feel like a swim meet, it was unbelievable.” Marchand’s achievements at his home games have made quite the impression, as he took gold for the second time that evening.

As for Chalmers, he was proud of his achievement, noting, “I did everything I possibly could, and I’m really proud.” He joined the ranks of great swimmers, becoming the first man in years to land medals in three consecutive Olympic finals for the 100m freestyle.

Even with the excitement of the competition, there were some disappointments, like Mollie O’Callaghan narrowly missing the podium in her event. Overall, this day in the pool marked another thrilling chapter in Olympic swimming history.