Paris Olympics 2024: How Kyle Chalmers fell back in love with swimming after 2022 Quit threat

Kyle Chalmers never enjoyed the "celebrity" element of being an Olympian, preferring to visit his friends or go fishing. Last year, he threatened to quit the sport after a media frenzy. He made a big transformation and "found love" again. He talks to Julian Linden before the Paris Olympics.

The show business aspect of swimming is not something that Kyle Chalmers has ever particularly loved.

The fact that he is one of Australia's all-time greatest freestyle sprinters and is expected to dominate at the Olympic Games in Paris next year makes it impossible for him to avoid this employment hazard. What he accomplishes in the pool is truly extraordinary.

However, that is not really his thing at all.

If the truth is known, Chalmers would much rather not be in the spotlight and instead be at the football game, fishing, or just hanging out with his friends.

Therefore, in the last year, when he was caught up in a media frenzy that almost prompted him to give up swimming, he made a life-changing decision that plenty of people think about but very few really make. He quit swimming.

He made the conscious decision to give more attention to the things that bring him joy, and as a result, he got himself a regular day job. The results have been wonderful for him, both in and out of the water.

"I think I've re-found myself," he added. "I've been looking for a long time."

I'm having a lot of fun in the water, but I'm having a lot more fun out of the pool, and that's a huge part of what's contributing to my success.

"It's made me really enjoy the sport again and love it, and it's probably re-found my passion and the reason why I'm doing it," I said. "It's made me love it."

TAKING UP THE TOOLS

The fact that Chalmers elected to make some additional money by working a side job came as a bit of a surprise to most people, but not to those who know him best.

He was already accustomed to hard work in his day job as a swimmer, so he was never interested in a 9 to 5 office job. Instead, he decided to join his close friend Matt Temple and pick up the tools, working as a construction laborer. Matt Temple was already working as a construction laborer.

Chalmers has been thriving in his new surroundings and has already figured out what he wants to do next after putting his muscles to good use while getting to work outside in the Adelaide sunshine. Chalmers is anything but a fish out of the sea and has been thriving in his new habitat.

I've always been curious about your plans once you finish swimming. He stated, "Not knowing where I'm going is something I've struggled with in the past."

But this year I started working in construction exclusively, spending a few days a week at a project site. And I guess it's just meeting people outside of the pool.

"Swimming is the only job I've ever had, and it's the best job in the world, but I'm going to have to leave the pool and join the working world at some time.

Being at the bottom of the totem pole in a field that I am deeply interested in and enthusiastic about.

"Working has made me a much happier person overall, and I think that shows in the pool."

ONE YEAR OUT

One year before the Olympic Games in Paris, Chalmers is in an ideal position. So far this season, he's had nothing but positive results.

He swam the 100-meter freestyle in 47.44 seconds to win the final at the Australian trials, which is the second-fastest time in the world this year.

In order to win gold in the global championships in Fukuoka, Japan, the 24-year-old will need to lower his previous best time of 47.08.

His only remaining goal is to win the long course (50-meter pool) world championship after having already won those in the Olympics, the Commonwealth Games, and the short course (25-meter pool).

Despite being a favorite, Chalmers faces a strong battle from the two 18-year-olds competing against the old guard because of his famous American adversary Caeleb Dressel's absence.

While China's Pan Zhanle (47.22) currently holds the top spot in the world rankings, Romania's David Popovici (46.86) is the defending champion and world record holder.

"I've been energised and thrilled. Silver medalist at the 2019 world championships but absent in 2027 due to injury and skipping his pet event in 2022, Chalmers stated, "I feel like a 17-year-old kid again rocking up to race."

I've been in the game for a while, and despite my best efforts, I've never managed to bring home the gold from the global championships.

"I really want to get this done before I go," I said.

Chalmers' best time is 47.08, which he did at both the 2019 World Championships and the 2021 Olympics.

Each time, he beat the times he set in the trials, so he is sure he can do it again in Fukuoka.

He said, "I'm about where I was when I swam my best time."

"I've learned how to handle the short time between the trials and the big race, and I think I'll be able to get a really good block in over the next few days and swim faster than that. I'm proud of being able to swim faster at the big competitions.

"I thought I was done last year at this time. I took a fresh look at things, found myself, and fell in love with the sport all over again."

The Australian team, according to veteran coach Michael Bohl, is doing well because of Chalmers' positive attitude.

I believe that boosts the cohesiveness of the group. Bohl has praised him as an excellent leader, saying that he is particularly effective with the relay team's male members.

A gold medal at the Olympics is not something you can win by chance. He carried it out. Almost went back to it. He has been there, done that.

"It's great to have a hard hitter on your side. It's a morale booster before a big fight.