Paris Olympics: Heartbreaking for Kyle Chalmers and the Australian 4x100m freestyle relay team as they narrowly miss out on gold

Kyle Chalmers ran a fantastic run for the Australian men’s 4x100m freestyle relay team in Paris, but it wasn’t enough to give the reigning world champion gold in a thrilling race.

The team was largely behind for the first three races of the competition, until Kai Taylor brought them back into the medal race with a thrilling swim, with Chalmers then bringing them home behind the United States.

Swimming legend Ian Thorpe called it “the best relay I’ve ever seen from Kyle Chalmers” after the Aussies narrowly missed out on the podium.

Jack Cartwright and Flynn Southam left their team-mates with some work to do after dropping to fourth in the opening two games of the competition.

But Chalmers enhanced his status as Australia’s top male relay runner with his trademark late performance in the final leg of the race.

He took to the water with Australia struggling but quickly claimed silver: his 100m time of 46.59 seconds was the fastest of any swimmer in the race.

Ariarne Titmus claimed silver after defending her 400m freestyle title, becoming only the second Australian swimmer to win back-to-back Olympic gold in an individual event since the legendary Dawn Fraser 60 years ago.

Then the women’s 4x100m freestyle relay team won gold, putting Australia at the top of the overall medal table in Paris. It was the country’s best ever first day at a Games.

And Chalmers’ teammate Elijah Winnington thanked God for his silver medal in the men’s 400m freestyle.

Three years ago, Winnington was entered as a big favorite for the Tokyo Games, but he eventually dropped to seventh place.

“For a few months I didn’t think I would ever be able to swim again,” he said of his great disappointment after Tokyo.

Winnington’s compatriot in Paris and race forerunner, Sam Short, finished fourth.

Caeleb Dressel and his team won their first American swimming gold in Paris.

More to come…