Flynn Southam chases Kyle Chalmers' world record at Sydney nationals
Flynn Southam, 21, will attempt to break Kyle Chalmers' 100m freestyle short-course world record of 44.84 seconds this week in Sydney.
Flynn Southam is targeting the national short-course championships in Sydney this week. The 21-year-old wants to break Kyle Chalmers' world record of 44.84 seconds in the 100m freestyle, set in 2021.
Southam burst onto the scene by becoming the first Australian to beat Chalmers in a 100m race at a major competition, winning at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Flynn Southam is competing in the 50m, 100m and 200m events, with the meet also serving as selection trials for December's world short-course titles in Beijing.
Fellow breakout star Lani Pallister, who recently handed Katie Ledecky her first international defeat in the 800m, will also race. Southam said his win over Chalmers "solidified myself as the next thing in Australian swimming" and his goal is an Olympic gold medal in LA in 2028.
- 21 years old
- Southam's age
- 44.84 seconds (100m freestyle)
- Chalmers' short-course world record
- 2021 in Russia
- Record set by Chalmers
- December in Beijing
- World short-course championships
Why it mattersA new generation of Australian swimmers is emerging as genuine medal contenders for the 2028 Olympics, shifting the sport's balance after Chalmers' dominance.
AustraliaAustralian swimming is entering a new era, with young swimmers like Southam and Pallister chasing world records and Olympic glory, rekindling local interest in the pool after recent disappointments.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 2 h ago
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