Kyle’s a shot at 200m

HE’S one of the fastest men in the world but Kyle Chalmers concedes he’s purpose built for the 200m and his Commonwealth Games results could dictate whether he redirects his attention moving into the Tokyo Olympics.

Chalmers will tackle the event for the first time on the international stage at the Gold Coast Games and heads into today’s heats holding the second-fastest time in the world this year.

A shock winner of the 100m gold at the Rio Olympics when just 18, Chalmers’ focus remains the sprint.

But he is keen to add strings to his bow and sees these Games as the perfect chance to test a multi-event program.

“Eventually I’d love to race the 200m (regularly) internationally,” Chalmers said.

“I’d probably train for the 200m and then come down and swim the 100m. 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,” Chalmers said.

“At this stage, (the 100m) definitely is my main race.

“(Winning) the 200m (at 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.”

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.

“(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 will tackle that challenge for the first time today when he forms an integral part of the 4x100m relay as well as tackling the 200m event.

Mack Horton and Alex Graham will also tackle the 200m, where England’s James Guy and Duncan Scott, from Scotland, hold faster seeds than the home trio.