- Kyle Chalmers received a storm of abuse and death threats
- Freestyler is now planning two weddings with his fiancée
Australian swimming champion Kyle Chalmers has opened up about the barrage of death threats and abuse he received from angry Chinese fans during the Paris Olympics – before revealing he had ‘never’ had a holiday until recently.
Chalmers endured a rollercoaster of emotions at the 2022 Commonwealth Games as claims emerged of a ‘love triangle’ between himself and new swimming Emma McKeon and Cody Simpson.
The ordeal led Chalmers to seriously consider quitting the sport he loves, but he returned to Paris with a vengeance with his Norwegian swimmer fiance Ingeborg Løyning.
Many favored Chalmers to win the 100m freestyle final, but he was defeated by Chinese rival Zhanle Pan, who broke the world record.
Speaking to a Chinese news network after the race, Pan took aim at Chalmers, accusing him of dismissing him after claiming silver in the one-sided final.
That led to a storm of abuse that Chalmers was not prepared for.
“It was very stressful at that time, there were a huge number of death threats and some pretty horrible messages,” Chalmers said. News Corp.
Kyle Chalmers (pictured with fiancée Ingie Loyning) has revealed the vile death threats he received during the Paris Games
Chalmers (right) was on the receiving end of a terrible beating after coming second to China’s Zhanle Pan (centre) in the 100m freestyle final at the Paris Olympics
“And then they started targeting my fiancée and family, and that’s going to be difficult.
‘Because you’re on the other side of the world, there’s not much you can do about it.
“I’m trying to swim and also contact family who are in Paris and traveling alone.”
The abuse has since subsided and Chalmers has returned to recharge his batteries at his suburban Adelaide home – explaining he has not had a single break so far in a remarkable confession.
“I’ve never been on vacation before, so it’s important for me right now to have some time away from the pool,” he said.
Chalmers, who is back working as a laborer, is now planning two weddings with his partner Ingeborg: one in Norway and one in Australia.
After his swimming career is over, he plans to complete his trade qualifications and return to his family home, Port Lincoln.
Chalmers and Loyning (pictured together) now plan to open a swimming school in Australia after they get married
Chalmers hopes to return to his hometown of Port Lincoln when his swimming career is over
“Being a builder there is a job you can transition into quite quickly and easily, so yes, that would be the goal,” he says.
He and Ingeborg are also thinking about starting a swimming school in the near future.
“We’re starting to lay the foundation for that, create the business plan and have the conversations to be able to do that,” he says.
Chalmers is still passionate about swimming and will surely light up the pool again soon.
“I love my sport, I love the lifestyle, I love swimming, I love being an athlete,” he says.