Kyle Chalmers makes SHOCK announcement about his swimming future after taking silver at the Olympic Games

Kyle Chalmers has reversed his retirement decision after a pulsating 100m freestyle final saw him claw silver from the jaws of a miserable defeat. 

The Australian veteran suffered a very sluggish first 50m in the blue ribbon event on Thursday morning.

Chalmers, starting in lane five as the second-fastest qualifier in the field, was the slowest to touch the wall on the turn as his rivals made a rapid start to the race.

But he clawed back ground to burst through in the final 15 metres, clocking a time of 47.48 seconds.

Yet in a stunning turn of events, China’s Pan Zhanle was a second quicker than Chalmers to take gold, and the Rio Olympic champion had to settle for silver.

An emotional Chalmers said he had plenty more to give to the sport in a poolside interview with Nine.

‘This is not my last individual [race],’ he said. ‘I’m not retiring any time soon. 

‘I love it. I think I’ll continue on as long as I possibly can. But this race does mean a lot to me. It is really special.

The Australian clawed back to second after a slow start in the 100m freestyle final saw him hit the turn in last place

‘I am probably just lost for words with it really. I think coming in, really, having three guys having a faster PB with me and being able to stay controlled and calm and no the pressure and expectation is so much on me, but I’m really, really stoked with that. 

‘Yeah, I don’t know what else to say. It is amazing. I’m very, very honoured.’

Chalmers added that he wants to remain deeply involved in swimming when he eventually decides to hang up his goggles.

‘It means so much to me,’ he said. ‘Particularly at the back end of my career. 

‘My first one, I was very naive and didn’t know what it meant to be an Olympian or Olympic champion, and I had to work so hard and go through so much to get to Tokyo.

Chalmers says he has plenty still to give to swimming after his silver win

To come away with silver there, that’s probably a highlight of my swimming career, and to back it up again this year, it’s so special to be an Olympian and be recognised as, I guess, Olympic champion.

‘My biggest goal now is inspiring the next generation of swimmers coming through. 

‘I was a kid from country South Australia, who has managed to progress on to the world stage in sport, and for me, I can’t wait to go home to Port Lincoln and start inspiring the next generation to come through and help them believe it is possible, even South Australians in general. 

‘Like, I’m just so proud to be Australian, South Australian, and from a small country town of Port Lincoln. I love it.’