Olympics star breaks world record in Paris – but it won’t count

An Olympics star has smashed a world record at the Paris 2024 Games – but his effort will not be officially recognised.

Australian swimmer Kyle Chalmers produced a stunning performance in the men’s 4x100m freestyle relay final at the La Defense Arena in the French capital.

Swimming his team’s fourth leg, Chalmers completed the two-length sprint 0.21 seconds quicker than the current world record time.

Australia played second fiddle to reigning world champions USA throughout the race but Chalmers, known as ‘Big Tuna’, ensured his team finished strongly and clinched the silver medal behind the Americans.

Olympics legend Ian Thorpe described Chalmers’ cameo as ‘the best relay I’ve ever seen’ as his compatriot completed his 100m split in 46.59 seconds, smashing the current world record time of 46.80 set by China’s Pan Zhanle earlier this year.

But Chalmers’ time will not become a world record as World Aquatics do not recognise times from relay events.

The only exception is the swimmer from the first leg of the relay as athletes in the second to fourth legs generally start faster as they are not required to remain still until the whistle is blown.

Chalmers helped add another medal to Australia’s tally in Paris less than two years after he threatened to quit the sport.

The swimmer was unhappy with ‘false headlines’ relating to an alleged rift with Commonwealth Games team-mates Cody Simpson and Emma McKeon.

‘I am your poster boy from 2016 and I’m your villain in 2022,’ Chalmers said after declaring that his career was at ‘breaking point’.

‘Up until this point, I’ve tried to just keep on moving forward but tonight I ask that you please stop writing these false headlines, otherwise my time in the sport will be finished.’

Australia are Olympic powerhouses in the pool and two of their biggest stars took gold and silver in the women’s 200m freestyle on Monday evening.

Ariarne Titmus was forced to settle for silver after Mollie O’Callaghan made a superb start to the race and maintained her lead to clinch gold.

‘That was stunning,’ said former Olympic champion Adrian Moorhouse. ‘Titmus couldn’t respond, she dug in there and gave everything she could but O’Callaghan was just better.

‘She was relentless, she took the lead and just kept on going.’

Olympic bronze medal swimmer Steve Parry added: ‘It was a demolition job – Mollie O’Callaghan absolutely took Ariarne Titmus apart over the last 50m.

‘It’s almost like she flicked on a switch and put on the afterburners, she powered away from Titmus and it was an Olympic record, just to underline it.’