15-year old Kyle Chalmers has done even more work on a decade-plus old Ian Thorpe National Age Record on Tuesday. After breaking the mark in the 100 free prelims at the 2014 Australian Age Championships, Chalmers went after it again in finals with a blazing 49.68 in a long course meters pool.
His old record from the morning was a 50.09, which cleared Ian Thorpe’s 1998 Record of 50.21. Though Thorpe was always more of a middle-to-distance swimmer, that 1998 season from him was arguably the most impressive we’ve ever seen, anywhere in the world, by a 15-year old male swimmer.
What’s really astonishing then is that Chalmers was also faster than the 16-year olds record of 49.70 held by Cameron McEvoy at 49.70, done in 2011. McEvoy’s records are the ones that Chalmers will be chasing for the rest of his year’s as a junior, although swims can’t ‘age up’; in other words, Chalmers can’t break the 16-year olds record as a 15-year old.
After a morning swim where he was already showing great back-half speed, Chalmers did it even better in finals.
PRELIMS: 24.10-25.99 = 50.09
FINALS: 24.09-25.59 = 49.68
Chalmers’ somewhat public debate in the Australian media has been whether to stick with swimming or to focus on Australian Rules Football. While he’s clearly talented in the former, he’s also a rising star in the latter, which is a sport where his father, Brett, made a living for 6 years.
A taste of international swimming, however, might well sway his decisions. So far, Chalmers is in a good position for both the Youth Olympics and Jr. Pan Pacs teams, as his is the fastest by an eligible swimmer (born in 1996-1999) from either this meet or the Australian Championships two weeks ago.
The boys’ 17-18 freestyle on Saturday is the only event remaining that could trip up the young Chalmers from being the top choice in the 100 free, and even there the top-seeded Regan Leong is a few months too old for consideration for the YOG’s.
Australia is only considering selection this year for the Youth Olympics in Nanjing, China in the 100 meter races, so even though they only get 8 total spots, the top swimmer in each event is a good bet for the meet.
The Junior World Record is still ‘on the books’ at a 48.97 belonging to American Caeleb Dressel, but Chalmers has several years left to break that swim.
A full recap of day 2’s finals will follow.
Full live meet results available here.
What a great talent for Aussie swimming , Swimming Australia need give these upcoming swimmers contracts, not to comeback swimmers . I hope Kyle stays with Swimming and not Aussie rules football. The world is his oyster for the South Aussie. Future Champ.
Whose record was that Triguy?
Previous record was 23.03 by te haumi maxwell. 16 year old record is 22.48 by maxwell
22.68 50 free tonight for chalmers
I can’t comment on Kyle’s AFL skills, but as a swimmer, it’s clear he has significant potential.
Following his progress as an age group swimmer has been very interesting indeed.
Watching him develop into an elite senior swimmer is a mouthwatering proposition.
I wish him all the best when deciding his future, but please let it be swimming – there’s already enough superstars in the AFL (Junior etc. etc.).
Haha bobo, what if vlad changes to usa and agnel decides he loves america too much and changes his citizenship.
Pretty sure the world would explode…
I don’t see Vlad being swayed, Russian is probably throwing enough money at him and their relays are solid. If he refused to swim for Russia, he would probably find himself in the military, manning a satellite station based somewhere he would never see anything but snow for the rest of his life…
😆
You never know what choices will be made… e.g. Cody Simpson was a potential swimming star who chose music over swimming. Simpson has won two gold medals at the Queensland Swimming Championships.Simpson trained at the Miami Swimming Club under coach Ken Nixon. He was booted off “Dancing with the Stars” last night.
49.68!
At 15!
Congrats to Kyle Chalmers!
It’s huge.
I think we must get used to see more and more things like that from youngsters.
Who knows if Michael Andrew will not swim under 2 minutes in the 200 IM in his 15th year?
Swimming is faster and faster and younger and younger everywhere in the world thanks to a better training, thanks to video work, thanks to the technology.
That swim is great but I’m still more impressed by the 50.21 from Thorpe in 1998.
As I’m still much more impressed by the 48.42 from Biondi in 1988 in a simple swim brief than all the 47.50 of today.
To come… Read more »
Correction about Morozov. I wanted to say it would not probably happen.
You had understood.
if Chalmers can get down to about 48.5 by 2016, then he has a very good chance of making the team.
Majer99, you are probably right in that it’s not as straight forward, but I look at a gravity/land based sport as much easier to catch up in than the water we live in.
True PVDH, but when looking at their trials, it’s wide open after those two top guys. He’s already in the mix with that time with two more years of development before Rio.