- Hayley Lewis was moved after her son Kai Taylor secured silver in the relay
- Taylor made a late appearance in the relay team but delivered an impressive performance
- Lewis confessed she could hardly find the words after the race
Australian swimming legend Hayley Lewis struggled to hold back tears as she witnessed her son Kai Taylor win a silver medal in the men’s 4x100m relay.
The Australian team faced a rocky start, but Taylor’s exceptional third leg performance reignited their chances. Kyle Chalmers then delivered a powerful finish, bringing the team home just behind the USA.
Taylor was a last-minute addition to the team, and his contribution was a brilliant decision.
‘He was uncertain about swimming,’ Lewis shared with Nine post-race.
‘We’re thrilled for him. I’m almost at a loss for words.’
‘He should be incredibly proud of his time. The 4x200m on Tuesday is looking promising for him.’
‘As I mentioned, he was unsure about competing. Just seeing him race tonight is more than I could have hoped for. Everything else is a bonus.’
‘It’s such a surreal experience. Watching him feels like watching myself, and it’s hard to articulate.’
Hayley Lewis was emotional after watching her son, Kai Taylor, take out a silver medal in the men’s 4x100m relay
Kai Taylor (second from right) was included in the team late – and the decision proved a masterstroke
‘We always believed he would excel for Australia because this is where he shines. He excels in relays.’
Chalmers solidified his recognition as Australia’s greatest male relay swimmer with his signature late sprint.
He clocked a 100m split of 46.59 seconds, the fastest in the race.
‘I cherish being part of the relay… I take pride in swimming for my team; that’s why I compete,’ he expressed.
Chalmers’ teammate Elijah Winnington gave thanks for his silver medal in the men’s 400m freestyle.
Three years prior at the Tokyo Games, Winnington entered as a favorite but experienced a heartbreaking seventh-place finish.
While he possesses a silver medal from the Tokyo Games’ 4x200m relay, he admitted he couldn’t look at it.
Taylor’s excellent performance put Australia back into contention in the third leg
‘I’ve never disclosed this, but I’ve never truly examined my medal because I felt I hadn’t earned it,’ he revealed.
Winnington described winning silver in Paris as ‘unbelievable’.
‘For a while, I doubted I’d ever compete again,’ he reflected on his disappointment after Tokyo.
His fellow competitor in Paris and pre-race favorite, Sam Short, finished in fourth place.
