- Kyle Chalmers received a storm of abuse and death threats
- Freestyler now plans two weddings with his fiancée
Australian swimming champion Kyle Chalmers has spoken openly about the torrent of death threats and abuse he received from angry Chinese fans during the Paris Olympics, before revealing he had “never” taken a holiday until recently.
Chalmers endured a rollercoaster of emotions at the 2022 Commonwealth Games when claims emerged of a ‘love triangle’ between him and new swimmers 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 fiancée Ingeborg Løyning.
Chalmers was favored by many to win the 100 meter freestyle final, but he was defeated by his Chinese rival Zhanle Pan, who broke the world record.
Speaking to a Chinese news network after the race, Pan took aim at Chalmers and accused him of snubbing him after claiming silver in the one-sided final.
That sparked a storm of abuse that Chalmers was unprepared for.
“It was very stressful in that period, getting lots of death threats and pretty horrendous messages,” Chalmers said. News Corporation.
Kyle Chalmers (pictured with his fiancée Ingie Loyning) has revealed the vile death threats he received during the Paris Games.
Chalmers (right) was on the end of terrible abuse after coming second to China’s Zhanle Pan (centre) in the 100m freestyle final at the Paris Olympics.
“And then they started attacking my fiancee and my family, and that becomes difficult.
‘Being on the other side of the world, there’s not much you can do about it.
“I’m trying to swim and also keep track of my family who are in Paris and traveling alone.”
The abuse has since subsided and Chalmers has returned to recharge his batteries at his home outside Adelaide, explaining he hasn’t had a single breakup so far in a notable admission.
“I’ve never been on vacation before, so it’s really important for me to spend some time out of the pool right now,” she said.
Chalmers, who has returned to work as a labourer, is now planning two weddings with his partner Ingeborg, one in Norway and one in Australia.
Once he finishes his swimming career, he plans to complete his business qualifications and return to his childhood 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 he finishes his swimming career.
“Being a builder there is a job that you can transition into pretty quickly and easily, so yeah, that would be the goal,” he says.
He and Ingeborg are also thinking about opening a swimming school in the near future.
“We’re starting to lay the groundwork for that, make the business plan and start having conversations to be able to do it,” he says.
Chalmers is still passionate about swimming and will surely be lighting up the pool again soon.
“I love my sport, I love the lifestyle, I love swimming, I love being an athlete,” he says.