It wasn’t Australia’s night in the Paris pool where history was made in between renditions of the French anthem, reports Editor at Large Louise Evans.
Australia’s Kyle Chalmers and Zac Stubblety-Cook were forced to play understudies to a world 100m record and a golden French God on the most memorable night at the Paris pool so far.
Chalmers proved once again he is a formidable racer who, despite his pre-Olympic world ranking outside the world top eight, has never finished worse than second at a major meet.
Chalmers, 25, is also a tremendous competitor who reacts well to a challenge and he certainly inflicted that on himself when he missed the 100m freestyle start and turned in eighth position behind leader and world No1 Zhanle Pan.
Pan, 19, the defending Olympic silver and 2023 world silver medallist, was on a world record mission, reducing his own mark with an Olympic victory in 46.40s.
Chalmers stormed home in second in 47.48s and declared immediately afterwards that despite previous advertising – he’s not retiring, even though he’s in the “backend” of his career.
“I did the best I possibly could and I’m proud of that performance,” Chalmers said. “To win a silver medal at my third Olympics – no one can take it away from me. I just stayed controlled and calm despite the pressure and expectation on me. I’m very honoured.
“This is not my last individual event. I am not retiring anytime soon. I am staying swimming as long as possible.”
Being a kid from country Port Lincoln in South Australia Chalmers said he was motivated to inspire other young kids to be ambitious and live their dreams.
After winning gold in Rio 2016 and silver in Tokyo, Chalmers’ second silver in Paris made him the first man since legendary Russian swim sprinter Alex Popov to medal in three consecutive Games.
There was more history when the French anthem La Marseillaise rang out across the pool to celebrate the 200m butterfly victory of Leon Marchand, who already has the 400m individual medley gold medal.
The French god then backed up just two hours later to also win the 200m breaststroke – a golden Olympic double that has never been achieved before. It was extraordinaire.
His victory however denied Australia’s Zac Stubblety-Cook, who finished with another Olympic silver medal.
“I stuck to my race plan and I am absolutely stoked with my silver,” he said. He also paid tribute to Marchand the Great and said he enjoyed being part of such a significant occasion.
“I knew it was going to be loud but not that loud,” he said. “It was his moment. For me it was about staying composed. I wanted to win and I gave it my best, Leon took it out really fast. I just tried to stick with him.”
Marchand isn’t finished yet either as he is also doing the 200m individual medley, which could take his Paris tally to a remarkable four gold medals.
Sandwiched in between renditions of La Marseillaise, one of the greatest swimmers of all time American Katie Ledecky won her eighth Olympic gold medal after gliding through the 1500m freestyle to another memorable victory.
Earlier it felt like the Paris Olympic pool had been transported to an altered universe. A 30-year-old Swede won the women’s 100m freestyle and Australia’s Amazons surfaced shocked and wide-eyed without any medals.
Even in the harem scarem, splash and dash that is the 100m freestyle racing – it was a bizarre result.
The honours went to Sweden’s veteran 14-time world champion freestyle and butterfly specialist Sarah Sjoestroem, who came to Paris to win the 50m and now has a bonus 100m gold medal with a surprise 52.16s victory.
Paris 100m butterfly champion from the US Torri Huske snared the silver in 52.29s, while bronze went to Paris 200m bronze medallist Siobhán Haughey, 26, from Hong Kong.
Australia’s dual Paris gold medallist in the 200m freestyle and 4x100m relay Mollie O’Callaghan was fourth in 52.34 while teammate Shayna Jack missed out on winning her first individual Olympic medal, finishing fifth in 52.72s.
“I’m not going to lie, that was disappointing,” said O’Callaghan who returns on Thursday to chase more gold in the 4x200m freestyle relay.
Louise Evans is an award-winning journalist who has worked around Australia and the world as a reporter, foreign correspondent, editor and media executive for media platforms including The Sydney Morning Herald (eight years), The Australian (11 years) and Australian Associated Press (six years in London, Beijing and Sydney).
A women sports’ pioneer, Louise was the first female sports journalist employed by The Sydney Morning Herald and the first female sports editor at The Australian. Louise went on to work at six Olympic Games, six Commonwealth Games and numerous world sporting championships and grand slam tennis events.
Louise is the Founding Editor of AAP FactCheck, the Creator of #WISPAA – Women in Sport Photo Action Awards and national touring Exhibition and the author and producer of the Passage to Pusan book, documentary and exhibition.
In 2019 she was awarded the Order of Australia Medal (OAM) Queen’s Honour for services to the media and sport and named an Australian Financial Review Top 100 Woman of Influence for services to the arts, culture and sport.
In 2020 she won a NSW Volunteer of the Year Award plus the NSW Government Community Service Award for her women-in-sport advocacy work.
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