SK188 Kyle Chalmers

Kyle Chalmers is often called ‘King Kyle’ since he ascended to the top of the world at 18 years old to win 100 free gold in Rio, but we prefer the moniker ‘Classy Kyle.’ No disrespect to the King. That’s a fair description for someone who never misses a 100 free podium. But at the ripe age of 26 (yes, Kyle Chalmers is only 26), he speaks like a pro with decades of experience, always friendly and thoughtful with fans and media, including how he responded to recent negative comments from competitor Pan Zhanle during the Paris Olympics. Look no further for an example of sportsmanship.

Age is not merely a number though. With multiple surgeries on his heart, shoulder, and ankle, plus myriad other physical and mental health challenges, Kyle’s body has lived a tough life, but we’re excited to hear there is no talk of retirement any time soon. In fact, he embraces the hardships he’s been through as proof that he can navigate difficulty and emerge stronger.

You’d think experiencing so many disruptions to training would lead to inconsistent results, but you would be wrong, because Kyle has arrived and delivered at seemingly every championship meet for a long time, regardless of what he’s overcome that season. So if there’s one prediction we can make going forward, it's that Kyle Chalmers will come back in 24 low in the 100 free. Count on it.