Australian swimmers smash world records, win four gold medals in Japan
Kyle Chalmers and Emma McKeon got goosebumps.
The swim stalwarts can scarcely believe Australia’s glorious opening night at the pool at the world championships in Japan.
Australia’s men’s 4x100m freestyle relay gold medallists Jack Cartwright, Kai Taylor, Flynn Southam and Kyle Chalmers. Getty
Two world records. Four gold medals from five on offer.
Chalmers: “I sat there with goosebumps all night.”
McKeon: “Two world records. Four golds. It’s just, like, nuts.”
Ariarne Titmus reclaimed her women’s 400m freestyle record.
Australia’s 4x100m freestyle relay team – McKeon, Mollie O’Callaghan, Meg Harris and Shayna Jack – broke the world record their nation set at the Tokyo Olympics of 2021.
Ariarne Titmus reclaimed her women’s 400m freestyle record. Getty
They finished in three minutes 27.96 seconds, well inside the previous high water-mark of 3:29.69.
Sam Short (400m freestyle) and Australia’s men’s 4x100m freestyle relayers – Jack Cartwright, Flynn Southam, Kai Taylor and Kyle Chalmers – also saluted on Sunday night in Fukuoka.
Chalmers: “I have been on world championships teams where we have probably struggled to win four medals for the whole competition, let alone four gold medals on the first night.”
Short set the tone with victory in the men’s 400m freestyle, the first final of the meet.
McKeon: “I was in the call room for my 100 ’fly semi when Sam was swimming. And you get the goosebumps all through you – to have people swimming that quickly for your team just lifts your team up.”
Chalmers: “Shorty… we have sat there for the last two weeks watching him dominate training and talk the big game. And for him to deliver was that spine-tingling moment.”
Next came Titmus’ astonishing feat, blitzing her chief rivals, American
Read more on afr.com
