Paris 2024 Olympics star shatters swimming world record leaving legend Ian Thorpe stunned… but it won’t be recognised
KYLE CHALMERS shattered the world record in the men’s 4x100m freestyle relay team at Paris 2024.
The Australian swimmer swam the two-length sprint 0.21 seconds quicker than the current mark – but his time will NOT count.
GettyKyle Chalmers shattered the world record in the men’s 4x100m freestyle relay team at Paris 2024[/caption]
EPAHe swam the two-length sprint 0.21 seconds quicker than the current mark – but his time will NOT count.[/caption]
Chalmers, 26, delivered an impressive fourth leg, yet fell short of securing gold against the reigning world champions USA.
The Aussies trailed for most of the three legs until Kai Taylor pulled it back to put the team into medal contention.
Then Chalmers known as the ‘Big Tuna’ brought it home securing the Australian squad with a silver.
Swimming legend Ian Thorpe called the race “the best relay I’ve ever seen from Kyle Chalmers”.
He started his leg with a struggling Australian side but ended his 100m split in 46.59 seconds – smashing China’s Pan Zhanle’s world record time of 46.80 from earlier this year.
But his time will not count officially because it was recorded during a relay event.
According to World Aquatics, only the swimmer in the lead leg is eligible for an official time and Chalmers was the fourth in the race.
This is because the dive that starts the swimmers in the second to fourth legs is faster than the regular starts where athletes must remain still until the race begins.
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Chalmers already holds the short course 100m freestyle world record with a time of 44.84 seconds.
And his unbelievable performance at the Paris La Defense Arena is a strong sign he can secure the long-distance record officially in the individual event on Tuesday.
The Aussie nearly quit the sport after claims at the 2022 Commonwealth Games he was involved in a “love triangle” with his teammates Cody Simpson and Emma McKeon.
But he eventually bounced back and met his now-fiance Norweigan swimmer Ingeborg Loyning.
What’s happening today at The Games?
WHAT TO WATCH TODAY…
THE PARIS 2024 Olympics is now well underway with medals being ticked off and huge events still to come.
SunSport brings you all the action taking place in the French capital on a what is expected to be a huge third day.
Tom Daley looks to retain his 10m synchro diving gold, this time with Noah Williams instead of Matty Lee (10am).
Tatt-mad Matt Richards and Tokyo silver star Duncan Scott are battling for 200m freestyle gold in the swimming pool (7.40pm).
Tom Pidcock goes in the mountain biking cross-country after winning gold three years ago (1.10pm) and it is the finals of equestrian eventing (team 11.15am, individual 2pm).
The men’s team gymnastics final – featuring Max Whitlock – starts at 4.30pm.
In hockey, Team GB women face Australia in their second pool match of this year, looking to make it bronze, gold, bronze, gold in the last four Olympics (4pm).
And there are Brits galore in the sailing down in Marseille (from 11am).
Swimmers Lilly King, Tatjana Smith, Ruta Meilutyte and Tang Qianting make up a star-studded quartet going for women’s 100m breaststroke gold (8.30pm).
It’s Novak Djokovic vs Rafael Nadal in a blockbuster second-round singles clash at Roland Garros, the tennis superstars’ 60th and probably final meeting (12.30pm).
Ukraine’s six-time fencing world champion Olha Kharlan was sent a personal letter by IOC chief Thomas Bach guaranteeing her place at a fifth Olympics.
She was disqualified from the fencing world champs last year for refusing to shake hands with her Russian opponent. The women’s sabre final is at 8.45pm.
Click here for all the events taking place at Paris 2024 today.
Follow all the action as it unfolds with our Paris 2024 Olympics LIVE blog.
