Australia's Kyle Chalmers has broken the world record in the men's short-course 100 metres freestyle, a mark that had stood for 13 years.
Key points:
- Chalmers swam a time of 44.84 seconds to win the 100m freestyle in Kazan
- The 23-year-old says it is a just reward after recovering from a shoulder surgery
- Chalmers won Olympic silver at the Tokyo Games earlier this year
Chalmers — competing at the FINA World Cup meet in Kazan, Russia — stopped the clock in 44.84 seconds.
He took 0.10 off the previous world record, which was set by France's Amaury Leveaux in 2008.
Chalmers's victory in Kazan was his fourth at a World Cup meet this year.
"It was definitely a dream. I am not sure if I was planning it, but I knew exactly what I had to do to swim that fast," Chalmers told FINA.
"To deliver this performance was rather a big challenge, to be performing better every single time I dive into the pool."
The 23-year-old later took to Instagram, describing his pride in his achievement after recovering from injury.
"If you had of told me 10 months ago that I would break the world record, I would have laughed," Chalmers wrote on Instagram.
"At that stage I was in hospital after having shoulder surgery, and just being able to swim again was my main goal.
"It's been a long journey back! But I would not have it any other way, the challenges, sacrifices and bridges I have had to climb to get to this point make it all that more special."
Chalmers won silver in the men's long-course 100m freestyle at the Tokyo Olympics earlier this year.
He claimed the gold medal in the event at the 2016 Rio Olympics.