That’s Chalm-ing: Kyle Chalmers ends Australia drought with storming Olympic Games 100m freestyle win
The 18-year-old became the first Australian to win the title since Mike Wenden in 1968, while there was also a breakthrough for Kazakhstan’s in the pool in Rio de Janeiro
Kyle Chalmers, Australia’s newest sprint freestyle sensation, won the Olympic Games 100m freestyle gold in Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday to end his country’s 48-year drought in swimming’s prestige event.
The 18-year-old stormed home to win in a junior world record of 47.58 seconds, ahead of Belgian silver medallist Pieter Timmers’ 47.80secs with 2012 gold medallist Nathan Adrian of the United States third in 47.85secs.
Meanwhile, Australia sprint star Cameron McEvoy, who established himself as the man to beat with a sizzling 47.04secs in April, was relegated to seventh in 48.12secs.
It was an electrifying Olympic debut for Chalmers, who ducked under the 48-second mark for the first time in Tuesday’s heats.
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He became the first Australian to win 100m free gold since Mike Wenden in 1968. Since then three Australians had finished second – Mark Stockwell in 1984, Eamon Sullivan in 2008 and James Magnussen in 2012.