Kyle Chalmers

Swimmer Kyle Chalmers cites the toll from "made up story lines" for missing the announcement of Australia's swim team on Sunday night.

“The fact that he is able to talk to us about it and we can put in place things is good.” “We will do what we need to do to just make sure he has what he needs to be ready to meet us for the worlds and go to Comm Games. ” … If the tables were turned and I was in that position and I said I wanted to swim, I’d hope people would understand and respect that I had earned that place.” “I am close to my family, close to my friends, and … they’re the ones I open up with.” The celebrity swimmer “absolutely” understood Chalmers’ reasoning for his change of mind and Chalmers’ right to do so. “I have just tried to stay calm … and just trying to not look at what everyone was saying and writing and posting,” Simpson said.

Kyle Chalmers has slammed sections of the media for its coverage of him at the Australian Swimming Championships as he missed Sunday night's team ...

“He was cool, he sort of reached out and we sort of cleared the air about it. “To have been one of those three guys for me is crazy already. “The negative media attention surrounding my decision to compete at worlds and the made up storylines surrounding my personal life have been more than I can handle. I have so much work to do to even be in the running’.” I need to look after my mental health and get myself right as I prepare for a massive year in the pool,” Chalmers wrote on Instagram. Chalmers said he has always loved butterfly but his body has not previously allowed him to add it to his freestyle program.

Australian Kyle Chalmers deserves to be celebrated, not criticized, for his change of heart and decision to race at the World Champs.

Simply, Chalmers claimed his butterfly berths to the World Championships solely on merit, and regardless of his prior statements, he is entitled to race as a competitor in the events for which he qualified. In a two-year stretch, he has developed into a world-class performer, with a Paris trip within reach. “I’ve sacrificed my body and given everything to my sport and country for the past decade,” Chalmers wrote on social media amid the unnecessary controversy. Based on Chalmers’ original gameplan, many thought Simpson would head to the World Championships as the No. 2 Australian. Yet, with Chalmers shifting his mindset and chasing an opportunity to race a stroke that was a boyhood love, Simpson will now only compete at the Commonwealth Games, where each nation is allowed three competitors. We’re talking about world-class sports, not schoolyard recess, and Chalmers is among the elite names in swimming and has further goals to pursue. Simpson finished third in the 100 butterfly, behind Matt Temple and Chalmers, in the process twice clocking efforts of sub-52.

The Australian Olympic champion has hit out at the 'made-up storylines' surrounding his selection shootout with Cody Simpson.

“So I am making the most of my opportunities and living out my dreams before it’s all over. I am close to my family, close to my friends, and ... they’re the ones I open up with.” As I said, I am a private person and I think I will always be that way. “We will do what we need to do to just make sure he has what he needs to be ready to meet us for the worlds and go to Comm Games. “The fact that he is able to talk to us about it and we can put in place things is good.” “ ... If the tables were turned and I was in that position and I said I wanted to swim, I’d hope people would understand and respect that I had earned that place.” “I am grateful for the opportunity to represent my country again, who knows how many more chances I will have to do so,” he said on Instagram. “People like to spin a story and find a story out of something,” Simpson said. The celebrity swimmer “absolutely” understood Chalmers’ reasoning for his change of mind and Chalmers’ right to do so. “I have just tried to stay calm ... and just trying to not look at what everyone was saying and writing and posting,” Simpson said. “ ... The negative media attention surrounding my decision to compete at the worlds and the made up story lines surrounding my personal life have been more than I can handle.” “I need to look after my mental health and get myself right,” Chalmers announced on Instagram on Sunday night.