Aussie Trials, Night 4, Finals: King Kyle Chalmers Turns The Clock Back 11 Years To Celebrate A Decade Of Domination
Australian freestyle king Kyle Chalmers has turned back the clock 11 years in Sydney tonight – celebrating an unbeaten domestic record of more than a decade in swimming’s blue ribband 100m freestyle.
The 27-year-old streeting one of the most competitive fields in Australian Championship history – with all top qualifiers breaking 49 seconds to make the final.
And it was Chalmers in the unusual lane six who again took control of the final to power his way to the wall in 47.59 – his 16th fastest time which continues his life-long love affair with the 100m freestyle.
HANDS FREE: Kyle Chalmers getting ready to dial in another dominant performance. Photo Courtesy Delly Carr (Swimming Australia)
Just like he had done on so many occasions before.
Chalmers revealing after the race that his career began in earnest at the 2015 Australian Championships at the same Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre in the same event and in the same lane.
The then unheralded 16-year-old from South Australia had finished fourth behind Cameron McEvoy, James Magnussen and Tommaso D’Orsogna, smashing the National Age record with a time of 48.69 – a time which still would have seen him make the final in 2026.
Chalmers reminiscing after the race, saying: “I am still loving the sport and it’s pretty special to look back 11 years ago when I made my first Australian team (for the 2015 World Championships) and in this event and in that lane.
“I’m loving where I’m at and the fact that I have two coaches who believe in me more than I believe in myself.”
But things have certainly changed in those 11 years that have seen Kyle Chalmers become a dominant force in 100m freestyle swimming around the world, as he waves to the grandstand and his wife Norwegian swimmer Ingeborg Loyning, who is nursing their daughter Astrid in a “Go Daddy” t-shirt.
“It is certainly different to prepare for a race (like today’s) with a baby to contend with but my wife has been amazing; taking the load off and allowing me to get the best out of myself…and a shout to my Mum too for coming to Sydney and helping out,” said Chalmers who will now contest his third Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and defend his crown from Brimingham.
IN LIKE FLYNN: Flynn Southam after nailing two 47s in one day. Photo Courtesy Delly Carr (Swimming Australia).
Chalmers had made the decision to change his mindset coming into the morning heats session.
Saying he had been inspired by his old sparing partner and good mate, McEvoy and his success after he turned 30, with Chalmers embarking on his own mission to beat Father Time and execute the perfect race.
Today in the morning heats of the 100m freestyle, the perfect race was all about conserving energy.
Chalmers qualified fifth fastest for the final, touching in 48.65 with Flynn Southam (Bond, QLD) the fastest (47.98) and taking over the lane normally reserved for the King, with a host of sub 49ers making up a red-hot field.
“I tried to put as minimal energy and mental energy as I possibly could to just get through the round, that is the most important thing,” said Chalmers.
“So as much as I am always expected to be in the middle lane for a final, I’d love to be in the outside lane so that people can’t necessarily ride off me as much as they sometimes do…doing what I needed to do.
“I’m just trying to hold on; I’m sure these young guys will catch me at some stage. But I hope it’s not tonight.”
And it certainly wasn’t.
Chalmers was out in 22.81 – the second fastest behind new 50m sprint star Jamie Jack (second to McEvoy in last night’s 50m final) who split 22.54.
But when the field surfaced from the turn it was the “The Big Tuna” from Port Lincoln who emerged like a Collins Class submarine, powering down the home stretch and swimming away to keep his unbeaten record in home waters intact.
WHAT A RELIEF: Kai Taylor gets the job done. Photo Courtesy Delly Carr (Swimming Australia)
Southam, who traditionally was one of the slowest through the first 50m in 23.36 had the fastest second 50 of 24.58 to Chalmers 24.78 to clock 47.94 – posting two impressive sub-48 secs swims in one day – with no one more impressed than Chalmers.
“For Flynn to swim two 47s in one day is pretty special – I have done that on several occasions and I know how tough that can be,” said Chalmers, impressed with the entire field.
“It was that close that the top four could well have been any order and transforming it into Gold in 2028 in LA..that’s the goal.”
And they’ll get two chances in Glasgow against England and Scotland and then in Irvine against the USA and Canada.
Joining Chalmers will be a mainstay of Australia’s Olympic and World Championship relays Kai Taylor (St Peters Western, QLD) 48.21 and one of the real standouts of this Trials meet – Nudgee’s Harrison Turner – who won his specialist 200m butterfly on night three after finishing third in the 200m freestyle and third in the 100m butterfly to secure a MVP ticket on the 2026 men’s relay squads that are certainly taking shape.
Just ask the King!
TOP 8 100m FREESTYLERS, 2026 AUSTRALIAN TRIALS
- Kyle Chalmers (Marion, SA) 47.59
- Flynn Southam (Bond, QLD) 47.94
- Kai Taylor (St Peters Western, QLD) 48.21
- Harrison Turner (Nudgee College, QLD) 48.22
- Matt Temple (Marion, SA) 48.38
- Jamie Jack (St Peters Western, QLD) 48.53
- Max Giuliani (Miami, QLD) 48.67
- Jack Cartwright (St Peters Western, QLD) 49.08
Results
2026 Australian Trials and Australian Championships, After 4 Days:
MEN
Freestyle
50m
Cameron McEvoy (Somerville Aquatics, QLD) 21.32
Jamie Jack ((St Peters Western, QLD) 21,52
Flynn Southam (Bond, QLD) 21.72
100m
Kyle Chalmers (Marion, SA) 47.59
Flynn Southam (Bond, QLD) 47.94
Kai Taylor (St Peters Western, QLD) 48.21, QLD)
Harrison Turner (Nudgee Aquatics, QLD) 48.22
200m
Sam Short (Rackley, QLD) 1:45.16
Kai Taylor (St Peters Western, QLD) 1:45.30
Harrison Turner (Nudgee College, QLD) 1:45.71
Ed Sommerville (Brisbane Grammar, QLD) 1:45.72
400m
Sam Short (Rackley, QLD) 3:40.67
Elijah Winnington (St Peters Western, QLD) 3:44.17
Benjamin Goedemans (St Peters Western, QLD) 3:45.85
800m
Sam Short (Rackley, QLD) 7:36.73
Benjamin Goedemans (St Peters Western, QLD) 7:477.62
Matt Galea (St Peters Western, QLD) 7:49.09
Backstroke
50m
Isaac Cooper (St Andrews, QLD) 24.46
Henry Allan (Bendigo East, VIC) 24.59
Mark Nikolaev (Somerset, QLD) 25.33
100m
Henry Allan (Bendigo East, VIC) 53.52
Stuart Swinburn (City of Sydney, NSW) 54.62
Adam Graham (Manly, NSW) 54.64
Breaststroke
50m
Sam Williamson (Melbourne Vicentre, VIC) 26.61
Gideon Burnes (Bond, QLD) 27.37
Joshua Anderson (Brisbane Grammar, QLD) 27.60
100m
Sam Williamson (Melbourne Vicentre, VIC) 59.07
Bailey Lello (St Peters Western, QLD) 1:00.33
Joshua Anderson (Brisbane Grammar, QLD) 1:00.42
Butterfly
100m
Matt Temple (Marion, SA) 50.50
Ben Armbruster (Bond, QLD) 51.00
Harrison Turner (Nudgee College, QLD) 51.47
200m
Harrison Turner (Nudgee, QLD) 1:55.18
Se-Bom Lee (Sydney Olympic SC, NSW) 1:57.85
Alex Quach (Nudgee. QLD) 1:58.49
Individual medley
200m
Will Petric (Nunawading, VIC) 1:57.55
Thomas Neill (Rackley, QLD)
Brendon Smith (St Peters Western, QLD) 1:59.11
WOMEN
Freestyle
200m
Mollie O’Callaghan (St Peters Western, QLD) 1:52.86
Lani Pallister (St Peters Western, QLD) 1:53.65
Inez Miller (Highlanders, WA) 156.41
Hannah Casey (Bond, QLD) 1:56.85
400m
Lani Pallister (St Peters Western, QLD) 3:59.72
Jenna Forrester (St Peters Western, QLD) 4:04.30
Amelia Weber (St Peters Western, QLD) 4:05.79
800m freestyle
Lani Pallister (St Peters Western, QLD) 8:13.41
Molly Walker (Southern Performance, SA) 8:26.01
Tiana Kritzinger (Rackley, QLD) 8:32.60
Backstroke
50m
Kaylee McKeown (USC Spartans, QLD) 27.13
Mollie O’Callaghan (St Peters Western, QLD) 27.19
Iona Anderson (Highlanders, WA) 27.33
100m
Kaylee McKeown (USC Spartans, QLD) 57.77
Iona Anderson (Highlanders, WA) 58.60
Hannah Fredericks (St Peters Western, QLD) 59.79
200m
Kaylee McKeown (USC Spartans, QLD) 2:03.98
Iona Anderson (Highlanders, WA) 2:07.59
Hannah Fredericks (St Peters Western, QLD) 2:07.99
Breaststroke
50m
Sienna Toohey (Albury, NSW) 30.57
Lily Koch (Melbourne Vicentre, VIC) 30.97
Mia O’Leary (Griffith, QLD) 31.23
100m
Sienna Toohey (Albury, NSW) 1:05.97
Ella Ramsay (Nunawading, VIC) 1:06.70
Sienna Harben (Griffith, QLD) 1:07.10
Butterfly
50m
Alex Perkins (USC Spartans, QLD) 25.60
Lily Price (Rackley, QLD) 25.91
Mackenzie Burns (St Andrews, QLD) 26.21 dh
Claudia Fydler (Bond, QLD) 26.21
100m
Alex Perkins (USC Spartans, QLD) 56.88
Brittany Castelluzzo (Tea Tree Gully, SA) 57.88
Isabella Boyd (Nunawading, VIC) 57.98
200m
Elizabeth Dekkers (St Peters Western, QLD) 2:04.95
Brittany Castelluzzo (Tea Tree Gully, SA) 2:06.95
Jess Cole (Carlile, NSW) 2:08.81
individual medley
200m
Jenna Forrester (St Peters Western, QLD) 2:09.07
Ella Ramsay (Nunawading, VIC) 2:09.40
Tara Kinder (Melbourne Vicentre, VIC) 2:10.14
MULTI-CLASS
MEN
Freestyle
50m
Tom Gallagher (St Peters Western, QLD) 23.62
Rowan Crothers (Marion, SA) 23.72
Alex Tuckfield (Aquablitz Toongabbie, NSW) 24.27
200m
Declan Budd (Knox Pymble, NSW) 1:56.37
Jak Ireland (University of QLD) 1:56.47
Darren Sisman (Cronulla, NSW) 1:57.17
400m
Callum Simpson (Flinders Phoenix, QLD)
Brenden Hall (USC Spartans, QLD) 4:20.30
Harrison Vig (Uni of QLD) 4:20.61
Backstroke
50m
Ben Hance (St Andrews, QLD) 25.88
Liam Togher (Knox Pymble, NSW) 30.21
Eli Kerr (Warnambool, VIC) 33.50
100m breaststroke
Jake Michel (Carina Leagues, QLD) 1:05.28
Timothy Hodge (Blacktown, NSW) 1:12.73
Riley Moore (Woden Valley, ACT)1:10.49
Butterfly
50m
Alex Saffy (Woden Valley, ACT) 26.27
Daniel Rigby (Knox Pymble, NSW) 28.13
Will Martin (Sunshine Coast Grammar, QLD) 27.92
00m
Declan Budd (Knox Pymble, NSW) 57.11
Tim Hodge (Blacktown, NSW) 1:00.47
Alex Saffy (Woden Valley, ACT) 57.67
Individual Medley
150m
Grant Patterson (Central Cairns, QLD) 3:11.43
Ahmed Kelly (Yarra Plenty Water, VIC) 3:12.71
200m
Timothy Hodge (Blacktown, NSW) 2:13.82
Ricky Betar (USC Spartans, QLD) 2:08.77
Samuel Gould (Griffith, QLD) 2:15.26
WOMEN
Freestyle
50m
Jasmine Greenwood (Woden Valley, ACT) 28.00
Kirralee Hayes (Genesis, QLD) 28.12
Madeleine McTernan (Griffith, QLD) 27.95
200m
Madeline McTernan (Griffith Uni, QLD) 2:10.87
Ruby Storm (USC Spartans, QLD) 2:12.82
Chloe Osborn (Blacktown, NSW) 2:32.59
400m
Lakeisha Patterson (USC Spartans, QLD) 4:36.79
Chloe Osborn (Blacktown, NSW) 5:19.24
Annabel Moloney (Cotton Tree, QLD) 4:57.42
Backstroke
50m
Madeline McTernan (Griffith Uni, QLD) 32.63
Michelle Fawer (Engadine, NSW) 36.95
Giselle Tapfield (Tivoli Swim Club/Rose Bay, NSW) 37.21
Breaststroke
100m
Stephanie Bruzzese (PLC Sydney, NSW) 1:20.46
Keira Stephens (Griffith, QLD) 1:20.67
Sahrah Hancock (Darwin, NT) 1:44.06
Butterfly
50m
Kael Thompson (USC Spartans, QLD) 30.55
Jordan Berryman (UWA-West Coast, WA) 39.28
Sarah Howe (St Hildas, QLD) 32.21
100m
Jasmine Greenwood (Woden Valley, ACT) 1:06.63
Kael Thompson (USC Spartans, QLD) 1:07.26
Montana Atkinson (USC Spartans, QLD) 1:08.00
Individual medley
Stephanie Bruzzese (PLC Sydney, NSW) 2:32.23
Jasmine Fullgrabe (Marion, SA) 2:40.86
Ruby Storm (USC Spartans, QLD) 2:43.13