How Chalmers turned 'addiction' into brutal training distraction

Aussie Olympic gold medalist Kyle Chalmers has upped his training regime in preparation for Paris 2024 to brutal levels.

The Rio 2016 100m freestyle gold medalist is spending up to six hours every day in the pool, plus several weights sessions in the gym per week.

But just five months from the start of competition in the French capital, Chalmers has a welcome distraction from training.

Kyle Chalmers at the 2023 World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan

Despite competing barefoot, Chalmers has become the latest athlete to release his own signature shoe.

Chalmers said he had always been a fan of a nice pair of kicks, revealing they are his primary self-reward after a strong result.

“I don’t think there’s been too many athletes that get their signature shoe, but definitely not many swimmers that get their signature shoe,” he told 9News Adelaide.

“If I have had a good race, whether it’s here at the South Australian state champs or at the Olympic games, I have always treated myself to a new pair of shoes.

“I always make sure I have a fresh nice bright pair of shoes that no one else on the pool deck will have.

“For me, I have always been a shoe guy and very addicted to spending money on shoes.”

Chalmers worked with Athletikan to produce the shoes.

Kyle Chalmers’ new signature line of shoes

“They’re nice green for the Olympics and the Australian team, so I’m looking forward to wearing them proudly.”

Paris will be his third Olympics. At the World Championships in Fukuoka in 2023, he went quicker than his gold-winning Rio time.

“I hope that I can get a whole lot quicker this year – that’s obviously the goal, but I won’t be able to find that out until I am in Paris, hopefully in the final.”

Chalmers will be 26 by the time the Dolphins arrive in Paris, where he will be one of the senior members of the team.

It’s a responsibility not lost on him.

“I love being able to give back to my sport that I am so passionate about,” he said.

“These young guys that are coming in and swimming so fast, if I am able to pass a bit of that information and wisdom that I have learnt along my journey and speed up their transition, then I think I will have done a pretty good job in my sport.”

Athletikan’s on-line ‘King Kyle’ pre-sale opens on Wednesday night.