'Drama': Aussie heartbreak as Kyle Chalmers pipped to freestyle gold
Australia's Kyle Chalmers has fallen agonisingly short of clinching history after being pipped to the gold medal by American superstar Caeleb Dressel in the 100m freestyle at the Tokyo Olympic Games.
Chalmers was trying to become the first Aussie man to defend his title from the Rio 2016 Games and the first man to win two golds in the 100m freestyle.
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The Aussie looked like he might have had Dressel covered after a lightning fast final 50 metres, the American touched first in a new Olympic Record time of 47.02.
Chalmers' time of 47.08 was an equal personal best but sadly for the 23-year-old, it was just not enough for the gold.
The grandstand finish left viewers gobsmacked on social media and Aussie fans understandably shattered, but proud of their man.
Literally heartbreaking for Kyle Chalmers and all of Australia. What a nice guy who came so close 😭😭 https://t.co/DGwM5CyHAc
— ☾madeleine (@idgimaddy) July 29, 2021
WOOSH! Caeleb Dressel #USA wins the Men's 100m freestyle! 🧜♂️
Photo finish drama but Dressel gets the touch ahead of Rio champion Chalmers#Swimming #Tokyo2020— Andrew Binner (@AndrewBinner) July 29, 2021
That was a great race. Chalmers is a fighter. Ridiculous margin. Dressell wins by 0.06, amazing swimmers.
— peter ryan (@petryan) July 29, 2021
Bloody magnificent swim by Kyle Chalmers. Heart as big as a barking pumpkin the lad.
— Andy Maher (@AndyMaherDFA) July 29, 2021
So close, Kyle Chalmers! I thought he had him too. Great swim and another great morning in the pool for the Aussies
— brad davidson (@braddavo) July 29, 2021
Kyle Chalmers really knows how to bring a race home doesn’t he? Couldn’t quite reel in Dressel and got beaten at the lunge for the wall.
— Louise Fernance 🇦🇺🏴 (@weezie8219) July 29, 2021
how am i supposed to be happy for the rest of the day after seeing kyle chalmers lose a gold medal by 0.06 seconds
— pia (@spideysariana) July 29, 2021
Kyle Chalmers 'left everything in the pool'
Russia's Kliment Kolesnikov took the bronze in 47.44.
Chalmers showed his class after the race by congratulating Dressel with a well deserved hug.
Dressel missed out on the individual sprint medals at Rio in 2016, but he has since exploded, winning an incredible 13 titles over the past two world championships.
He went to the turn in front but had to dig deep to hold off a storming Chalmers, smashing the previous Olympic record of 47.05 held by Australia's Eamon Sullivan since 2008.
"I don't know if it's set in yet. It's been a really tough year, really hard. I'm really happy," he said in tears as he was connected via video link to his wife and family back home.
Chalmers - while disappointed he couldn't win the gold again - admitted that he did everything in his power to claim victory.
"I left everything in the pool. I gave everything I could," said Chalmers.
It was Dressel's second gold of the Games after spearheading the United States to the 4x100m relay title on Monday.
He will also race the 50m freestyle and 100m butterfly, and could feature in two other relays to keep his dream alive of a six-gold medal haul.
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