Olympic athlete breaks world record but sadly it will never count

An Olympic swimmer smashed a world record in the relay but sadly it won't count due to a little-known rule.

The 2024 Olympics kicked off last Friday (26 July) and millions of people around the globe have been eager to watch their country battle it out for gold.

The Paris Games are expected to feature 10,714 athletes from 206 countries and one of which impressively broke a world record - but it won't count.

Australian swimmer, Kyle Chalmers, wowed the world when he smashed the world record while representing the Aussie men's 4x100m freestyle relay team.

Kyle Chalmers, 26, smashed the world record but it sadly won't count. (Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Joining Chalmers in the Aussie quartet was Jack Cartwright, Flynn Southam and Kai Taylor with the 'Big Tuna' bringing it home in the final leg of the race securing them with silver behind the US.

The 26-year-old swam his leg of the race in an incredible 46.59 seconds - a whole 0.21 quicker than previous record holder, Pan Zhanle, whose time was set at 46.80 seconds earlier this year.

However, Chalmers' time will not count officially because it was recorded during a relay event.

The official World Aquatics rules state that it is only the swimmer in the lead leg who is eligible for an official time and, given that Chalmers was the fourth in the team to hit the water, his record-breaking time will not be counted.

The Aussie swimmer finished the replay race in an impressive 46.59 seconds. (Al Bello / Staff / Getty Images)

Elsewhere in the Olympics, broadcaster Eurosport made the decision to remove Bob Ballard from its commentary team after he made a sexist remark about Australia's female swimming team.

On Saturday evening (27 July), the women’s 4x100m freestyle relay team - comprised of Mollie O’Callaghan, Shayna Jack, Emma McKeon and Meg Harris - won gold.

In a clip that has since gone viral on social media, the former BBC commentator could be heard saying: "Well, the women just finishing up. You know what women are like … hanging around, doing their makeup."

Following his remarks, Ballard’s co-commentator, Lizzie Simmonds, called the remark 'outrageous' before adding: "Some of the men are doing that as well."

Eurosport has since released a statement following Ballard's comments which reads: "During a segment of Eurosport’s coverage last night, commentator Bob Ballard made an inappropriate comment.

"To that end, he has been removed from our commentary roster with immediate effect."

Ballard, who has been covering sports since the 1980s and has reported on multiple Olympic Games and World Championships, shared a statement on X which reads: "The comments I made during the Australian freestyle relay victory ceremony on Saturday have caused some offence.

"It was never my intention to upset or belittle anyone and if I did, I apologies. I am a massive advocate of women's sport.

"I shall miss the Eurosport team dearly and wish them all the best for the rest of the Olympics."

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