{"id":651505,"date":"2026-08-18T05:35:58","date_gmt":"2026-08-18T12:35:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=651505"},"modified":"2026-08-18T05:35:58","modified_gmt":"2026-08-18T12:35:58","slug":"could-australia-take-down-legendary-world-record-in-mens-400-freestyle-relay-before-united-states","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/could-australia-take-down-legendary-world-record-in-mens-400-freestyle-relay-before-united-states\/","title":{"rendered":"Could Australia Take Down Legendary World Record in Men’s 400 Freestyle Relay Before United States?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Could Australia Take Down Legendary World Record in Men’s 400 Freestyle Relay Before United States?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Thanks to the heroics of\u00a0Kyle Chalmers<\/strong>, Australia captured world titles in the men’s 400 freestyle relay in 2023 and 2025, both in upset fashion. On both occasions, Australia had never led before Chalmers entered the water in third place. A 46.56 split in 2023 blasted Chalmers past Italy’s Thomas<\/strong> Ceccon<\/strong>. Same story in Singapore, with Chalmers storming ahead of Italy and the United States, only this time splitting 46.53. In between, he went 46.59 in the Olympic final to bring Australia into silver-medal position.<\/p>\n

Now, a decade after Chalmers emerged as a teenage Olympic champion in the 100 freestyle, he could lead Australia to history in relay action. Assuming he returns to the 400 free relay squad at next year’s World Championships, he will join the most accomplished contingent of countrymen he has ever raced alongside.<\/p>\n

The evidence came at the two major competitions where the Dolphins competed over the past month, the Commonwealth Games and Pan Pacific Championships. Gold in Glasgow was no surprise, particularly as the British team was split into various home countries. But no one counted on a 47.09 leadoff leg from\u00a0Flynn Southam<\/strong>, a best time by six tenths quickly placing the 21-year-old into the global elite in the event.<\/p>\n

\"flynn

Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr (Swimming Australia)<\/p><\/div>\n

Southam’s star turn in this relay allowed Chalmers to cruise home in 46.93 to wrap up the gold medal. In between,\u00a0Kai Taylor<\/strong> split 47.53 while\u00a0Harrison Turner<\/strong>, in his first appearance on this relay, went 47.94.<\/p>\n

Two weeks later, the Australian team raced at the Pan Pacific Championships but with several of its biggest names having returned home, Chalmers and Southam among them. Without that duo, surely the Aussies would struggle against a full-strength team from the United States… except this less-heralded foursome only fell by a half-second.<\/p>\n