Growing ambition
AN obvious question to Kyle Chalmers is why add the 200m freestyle to his swimming ambitions?
To Chalmers, the answer is equally obvious: Why not?
“There has been plenty of people in the past that have been able to back up and do multiple events,” he said.
“You look at (Michael) Phelps – he won eight gold medals.
“I’m not planning on eight events but if I can’t back up that many times, then I think I’m in a bit of strife.”
Chalmers won the Australian 200m freestyle title at the nationals in Adelaide on Wednesday night. It came two nights after his Commonwealth record in his pet event, the 100m freestyle.
No man has won the 100-200 freestyle double at an Olympics since 2000 but reigning 100m Olympic champ Chalmers said more practice would hopefully make for a perfect feat.
“The 200, I’m probably not confident swimming my own race plan just yet,” he said.
“I still think I need a little bit of practice.”
Chalmers, 20, plans to test his double-gold goal at the world championships in July.
His program is set to feature the 200m and a likely 4x100m freestyle relay swim one day; the 100m the next.
“It ends up being quite a lot of races before I get into my main event,” he said. “I’m trying to get as fit as I possibly can.”
Chalmers, Ariarne Titmus (women’s 200m freestyle) and Matt Wilson (men’s 200m breaststroke) have set Commonwealth records at the national championships.
Bond’s Jenna Strauch won the women’s 200m breaststroke in a personal best time of 2:24.88. goldcoastbulletin.com.au