SYDNEY – Kyle Chalmers mowed down his rivals to take the 100 metres freestyle crown at the Australian Open swimming championships on Monday before revealing his desire to finally land an Olympic sprint relay gold in 2028. The 27-year-old South Australian has only one Olympic gold in his bumper collection of medals — the 100m title he won a decade ago as a teenager in Rio de Janeiro.
The former world champion has two bronzes and a silver in the 4×100 relay from his three Olympics but would like nothing better than to stun hosts the United States in their own backyard in Los Angeles.
“I’d love a gold medal in a relay,” Chalmers told Code Sports after winning the blue riband sprint in 48.39 seconds. “To go to a fourth Olympics and get a gold medal in that relay would be, for me, the ultimate success at this point. And I say that truthfully and honestly, I love that relay and if we were able to win it, I think it would be amazing.”
Chasing the Americans
The United States has dominated the men’s 4x100m freestyle relay at the last three Olympic Games, winning gold in London 2012, Rio 2016, and Tokyo 2020, as well as at Paris 2024. Australia’s last gold in the event came at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, when Ian Thorpe anchored the team to victory on home soil.
Chalmers believes the inclusion of 50m world record holder Cam McEvoy on the Australian team would be a massive boost to their hopes of wresting the title from the Americans, who have won it at the last three Games. McEvoy has not swum relays for the last five years, and Chalmers said he would be prepared to give up the anchor leg if it would tempt the 31-year-old back into the team event.
“If it was to work out, I feel like we would be a very good chance of beating America at their home Olympics, which on night number one … would set the team up for an amazing week in the pool,” Chalmers added.
Australian Open Championships
Most of the swimmers at the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre are more immediately concerned with showing their form ahead of this year’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and the Pan Pacific Championships which follow in California.
World champion Mollie O’Callaghan took out the women’s 100m title in 52.66 seconds on Monday, while Olympic champion and world record holder Kaylee McKeown clocked 2 minutes, 5.66 seconds to win the 200m backstroke. Former world champion Sam Short took out the men’s 400m freestyle in 3:42.53, nearly four seconds ahead of Paris Olympics silver medallist Elijah Winnington (3:46.36).
The championships continue until Wednesday. The Australian trials for the Commonwealth Games and Pan Pacific Championships take place from June 7 to 13 at Sydney’s Olympic Park.
Chalmers’ Legacy
Kyle Chalmers burst onto the international scene at the 2016 Rio Olympics, winning the 100m freestyle gold at just 18 years old. He has since added silver in the 100m freestyle at Tokyo 2020 and bronze at Paris 2024, along with relay medals across three Games.
A fourth Olympics in Los Angeles would cement Chalmers’ status as one of Australia’s greatest swimmers. But for the South Australian, individual glory is no longer the primary motivation. The chance to stand atop the podium with his teammates — and to do it on American soil — is what drives him now.
The Road to LA 2028
With four years until the Los Angeles Olympics, Chalmers has time on his side. But the path to relay gold requires more than individual brilliance — it demands a team of four swimmers capable of matching the Americans’ depth.
The potential inclusion of Cam McEvoy, who has not swum relays since 2021, would be a significant boost. McEvoy, the 50m freestyle world record holder, has focused exclusively on individual events in recent years, but his return to the relay pool would add world-class speed to the Australian lineup.
Chalmers’ willingness to give up the anchor leg — traditionally the position of the fastest swimmer — demonstrates his commitment to the team over individual accolades. It is a gesture that could help persuade McEvoy to return.
For now, the focus remains on the Australian Open championships and the upcoming Commonwealth Games. But in the back of Chalmers’ mind, the goal is clear: Olympic gold in Los Angeles, in the relay, with his teammates.
