ADELAIDE: Kyle Chalmers is being spurred on in the pool by the thought of having his daughter watching on from the stands at the 2028 and 2032 Olympic Games.
At the Australian swimming trials on Wednesday night, the nine-time Olympic medallist finished second in the men’s 50m freestyle final and knocked one tenth of a second off his personal best, clocking 21.68.
Cameron McEvoy, who won gold in the one-lap dash at the Paris 2024 Olympics, shot to victory in Adelaide in 21.30.
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The long-time Dolphins both qualified in the 50m freestyle for the Singapore world championships, to be held between July 28 and August 3, although Chalmers may leave the one-lapper off his schedule to focus on his pet 100m freestyle event as well as relays.
Chalmers will line up for the 100m freestyle final in Adelaide on Thursday night.
Watch the 2025 Australian swimming trials live and free on Nine and 9Now, taking place from June 9-14.
Kyle Chalmers launches into the water in Adelaide. Getty
The South Australian and his fiancée, Norwegian Olympic swimmer Ingeborg Løyning, announced in March that they’d be welcoming a baby girl into the world.
“Life outside the pool’s going really well, and it’s been awesome being able to go through it with Cam [McEvoy],” Chalmers said after Wednesday night’s final.
McEvoy and his wife announced in April that they’d be welcoming a baby boy.
“I never thought we’d be having conversations … and talking baby stuff,” Chalmers continued.
“It’s very foreign, especially for me, but it’s super exciting, and to be able to go through it together with someone I’ve looked up to my whole swimming career is very special.”
Chalmers was speaking on the pool deck to retired Australian swimming great Cate Campbell, who’s part of Nine’s commentary team for the trials.
Campbell asked the 26-year-old what he was looking forward to most about being a dad.
“Honestly, I think having my daughter in the stands watching me is something that’s really motivating me to continue on,” he said, “and the thought of being at the Olympic Games and having a potential three-year-old there with me will be very special if I’m able to do that.”
Although he swam a 50m freestyle personal best on Wednesday night, the three-time Olympian isn’t planning on taking the event seriously in the foreseeable future.
“It’s really good working on my speed for my front end [in the 100m],” he explained to reporters in the media mixed zone.
“It’s an area of my [100m] race that’s let me down quite a lot in my career — turning seventh, turning eighth — and I know that’s the area I need to improve on if I’m going to be competitive in the 100m still.
“So that’s more my focus of why I’ve been doing it [the 50m].”
Cameron McEvoy and Kyle Chalmers embrace. Getty
Besides, as Chalmers explained, contesting the 50m at the world titles would affect the impact he could have as a relay swimmer.
In Paris last year, he produced a blinding anchor swim to pluck silver for Australia in the men’s 4x100m freestyle relay.
He’s long been a relay weapon, and he wants to continue as one.
“My biggest focus is still giving my all for the relays, and being available for heats and finals and relays where my country and team need me,” he said.
“I want to make sure I still prioritise that because that’s what I’ve been really focusing on — preparing to do well in relays for my teammates, and try and have success and win medals with them.”
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