KYLE CHALMERS shattered the world record in the men’s 4x100m freestyle relay team at Paris 2024.
The Australian swimmer swam the two-length sprint 0.21 seconds quicker than the current mark – but his time will NOT count.
Chalmers, 26, delivered an impressive fourth leg, yet fell short of securing gold against the reigning world champions USA.
The Aussies trailed for most of the three legs until Kai Taylor pulled it back to put the team into medal contention.
Then Chalmers, known as “Big Tuna”, brought it home securing the Australian squad silver.
Swimming legend Ian Thorpe called it “the best relay I’ve ever seen from Kyle Chalmers”.
He started his leg with a struggling Australian side but ended his 100m split in 46.59 seconds – smashing China’s Pan Zhanle’s world record time of 46.80 from earlier this year.
But his time will not count officially because it was recorded during a relay event.
According to World Aquatics, only the swimmer in the lead leg is eligible for an official time and Chalmers was the fourth in the race.
This is because the dive that starts the swimmers in the second to fourth legs is faster than the regular starts where athletes must remain still until the race begins.
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Chalmers already holds the short course 100m freestyle world record with a time of 44.84 seconds.
And his unbelievable performance at the Paris La Defense Arena is a strong sign he can secure the long-distance record officially in the individual event on Tuesday.
The Aussie nearly quit the sport after claims at the 2022 Commonwealth Games he was involved in a “love triangle” with his team-mates Cody Simpson and Emma McKeon.
But he eventually bounced back and met his now-fiancee Norweigan swimmer Ingeborg Loyning.
WHAT TO WATCH TODAY...
The Paris 2024 Olympics is now well underway with medals being ticked off and huge events still to come.
SunSport brings you all the action taking place in the French capital on a what is expected to be a huge third day.
TODAY’S BRIT MEDAL HOPES
Alex Yee is desperate to go one better than his Tokyo triathlon silver medal now the Seine has the green light (7am).
The Team GB 4x200m men’s freestyle swimming squad are packed with talent and could be in for gold (8.59pm).
And the women’s gymnastics team could also get a podium finish but it’s a strong field including Simone Biles’ USA (5.15pm).
BRITS TO WATCH
Kieran Reilly and Charlotte Worthington get underway in the freestyle BMX qualifiers (12.25pm).
Joe Clarke and Mallory Franklin are both in canoe slalom action, while the men’s hockey side face top-dogs the Netherlands.
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Clarisse Agbegnenou carried the flag for France at the opening ceremony.
She can back that up with a third Olympic judo gold in the -63kg final (4.49pm).
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It is the final day of the rugby sevens for this Olympics, ending with the final at the 70,000-seater Stade de France at 6.45pm.
And the street-style 3×3 basketball gets underway at the spectacular La Concorde venue at the bottom of the Champs-Elysees in the heart of the city.
Click here for all the events taking place at Paris 2024 today.
Follow all the action as it unfolds with our Paris 2024 Olympics LIVE blog.
