Kyle weighs options
100m champ eyes 200m for Olympics
SWIMMING: He’s one of the world’s fastest men over short distances, but Kyle Chalmers concedes he’s purpose-built for the 200m and may redirect his program for the Tokyo Olympics.
Chalmers will tackle the 200m freestyle on the international stage for the first time at the Commonwealth Games and heads into today’s heats having produced the second-fastest time in the world this year.
A shock winner of the 100m gold at the Rio Olympics when just 18, Chalmers remains focused on the blue riband sprint.
But he is keen to be add strings to his bow and sees the Gold Coast Games as the perfect chance to test a multi-event program.
“Eventually I’d love to race the 200m (regularly) internationally,” Chalmers said. “It’s good to be finally racing it.
“I guess we’ll see this meet how I go with a busier than normal program and if I’m going to take it further.”
At 193cm and 95kg, the South Australian, nicknamed the Big Tuna, seems perfectly suited for the 100m sprint.
“But the 200m is probably more designed with the way I train and how my body is, so I’m excited to race it here,” he said.
“At this stage, it (the 100m) definitely is my main race. The 200m (win at the trials) was a fair bit of a shock for me.
“I’m probably more a 200m freestyler – my body and how I’m cut out is probably more suited for the 200m – but the 100m has always been my main focus.
“So now I have to assess and see how this meet pans out for me and see if I start focusing on the 200m, but I love the 100m, that’s the blue riband event ... everyone wants to be a part of.”
While Chalmers says he does not follow international swimming closely, he knows what the main players in his events are up to and sees world champion Caleb Dressel as an inspiration.
“He (Dressel) trains for multiple events,” Chalmers said.
“That for me sticks in the back of my mind. I know if I want to be up there with those guys I’ve got to train for multiple events and I guess if I’m training for the 200m, my fitness is going to be up and it’s going to better my 100m back end.
“But the hardest part is going to be the relays and backing up.”
Chalmers tackles that challenge for the first time today when he tackles the 4x100m relay as well as the 200m freestyle.
Mack Horton and Alex Graham will also tackle the 200m, although the Aussies will not have things all their own way with England’s James Guy and Scotland’s Duncan Scott holding faster seeds than the home trio.