Chalmers, McKeon claim more gold for Australia at world short course championships

Australia has won the 100 metres freestyle double at the world short course championships in Melbourne, with Kyle Chalmers also collecting a second gold medal with an outstanding relay leg for the host nation.

Chalmers and Emma McKeon topped the podium in their respective sprint events, both winning an individual world short course title for the first time in their careers.

A barnstorming finish saw Chalmers touch the wall first in the men’s 100m freestyle final, winning in a championship record of 45.16 seconds.

France’s Maxime Grousset (45.41) was second and Italian Alessandro Miressi (45.57) placed third, while long-course world record holder, Romanian teen David Popovici, finished one spot outside the medals in 45.64.

Chalmers later anchored the Australian men’s 4x50m freestyle relay team to gold, having produced a breathtaking final leg to overhaul Italy to win by just 0.04 in a time of 1:23.44.

Isaac Cooper led the Australian team out with Matt Temple and Flynn Southam following, before Chalmers hit the water in fifth place.

But Chalmers mowed down the field with a split of 20.34.

Owner of 11 Olympic medals, including five gold, McKeon could not be denied in the women’s 100m freestyle final, holding off Hong Kong’s Siobhan Haughey to win in 50.77, which was a championship record.

Haughey challenged McKeon in the final lap before finishing 0.10 behind the Australian, while Dutch swimmer Marrit Steenbergen (51.25) took the bronze medal.

McKeon’s fellow Australian Madi Wilson (51.70) was fourth.

“It was a tight finish. I didn’t realise until way after the race because I couldn’t see anything,” McKeon told the Nine Network.