- Lewis gets emotional after son Kai Taylor wins silver in relay
- Taylor was a late addition to the relay team, but swam well.
- Lewis admitted he could barely speak after the race.
Australian swimming great Hayley Lewis held back tears after watching her son, Kai Taylor, win a silver medal in the men’s 4x100m relay.
The Australian team didn’t get off to the best start, but Taylor’s swim put the team back in contention during the third leg, before Kyle Chalmers stormed home with a powerful swim to finish just behind the US.
Taylor was included late in the team and the decision proved to be a masterstroke.
“I didn’t know if I was going to swim that,” Lewis told Nine afterwards.
“We are so excited for him. I can barely speak.
“He’ll be very, very happy with his time. Things are looking good for him in the 4x200m race on Tuesday.”
“Like I said, he didn’t know. I’m just happy he can compete tonight. Anything else is really a bonus.”
“It’s just surreal. It’s like seeing myself, it’s hard to explain.
Hayley Lewis was emotional after watching her son, Kai Taylor, win a silver medal in the men’s 4x100m relay.
Kai Taylor (second from right) was included in the team late, and the decision turned out to be a masterstroke.
“We knew he would do well in Australia because that’s his thing. Relays seem to be something he’s good at.”
Chalmers enhanced his status as Australia’s top male reliever with his trademark finishing attack.
His time of 46.59 seconds in the 100 meters was the fastest of the race.
“I love being part of the relay… I love swimming for the team, that’s my pride and joy and that’s why I swim,” she said.
Chalmers’ teammate Elijah Winnington thanked God for his silver medal in the men’s 400m freestyle.
Three years ago at the Tokyo Games, Winnington entered as a heavy favorite but fell to seventh place.
She has a silver medal after a series of swimming at the Tokyo Games in the 4x200m relay, but said she couldn’t bear to watch it.
Taylor’s excellent performance put Australia back in contention in the third match.
“I’ve never told anyone this, but I never looked at that medal because I didn’t think I had won it,” he said.
Winnington said winning silver in Paris was “unbelievable.”
“For a couple of months I didn’t think I would swim again,” she said of her crushing post-Tokyo disappointment.
Winnington’s compatriot from Paris and pre-race favourite Sam Short finished fourth.