Triple Crown Not An Easy Task to Complete; Kyle Chalmers and Ryan Murphy Latest to Join Club
Last month, Kyle Chalmers completed a long-sought-after career goal when he captured the gold medal in the 100-meter freestyle at the World Championships. That title complemented golds in the event from the Olympic Games (2016) and World Short Course Championships (2022) and completed the Triple Crown for the Aussie ace.
Ahead of the World Champs, Chalmers had spoken of adding the only crown that was missing from his collection, and he got the job done with a sterling performance in the final in Fukuoka. But Chalmers’ excellence in the 100 freestyle has also been on display at the Commonwealth Games and Pan Pacific Championships, where he’s
Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
also earned gold in the 100 freestyle.
At the recent World Champs, American Ryan Murphy added a second Triple Crown when he won the 100 backstroke, an event he won at the 2016 Olympics and twice at the World Short Course Champs. Murphy wrapped up his first Triple Crown in 2022, as he managed the trifecta in the 200 backstroke.
Earning membership into the Triple Crown club is no easy feat, as it requires skill in both the short-course and long-course pool. Of course, it is a relatively new club since the World Short Course Champs did not debut until 1993 and the World Championships made their first appearance in 1973.
Here is a look at the male athletes (women in next article) who have claimed the Triple Crown of gold medals by winning the same event at the Olympic Games and both versions of the World Championships.
Cesar Cielo – 50 Freestyle
Olympics (2008)
Worlds (2009/2011/2013)
SC World (2010)
Caeleb Dressel – 100 Freestyle
Olympics (2020)
Worlds (2017/2019)
SC Worlds (2018)
Kyle Chalmers – 100 Freestyle
Olympics (2016)
Worlds (2023)
SC Worlds (2022)
Ian Thorpe – 200 Freestyle
Olympics (2004)
Worlds (2001/2003)
SC Worlds (1999)
Michael Phelps – 200 Freestyle
Olympics (2008)
Worlds (2005/2007)
SC Worlds (2004)
Tae-Hwan Park – 400 Freestyle
Olympics (2008)
Worlds (2007/2011)
SC Worlds (2016)
Grant Hackett – 1500 Freestyle
Olympics (2000/2004)
Worlds (1998/2001/2003/2005)
SC Worlds (1997/1999/2002)
Gregorio Paltrinieri – 1500 Freestyle
Olympics (2016)
Worlds (2015/2017/2022)
SC Worlds (2014/2022)
Aaron Peirsol – 100 Backstroke
Olympics (2004/2008)
Worlds (2003/2005/2007)
SC Worlds (2004)
Matt Grevers – 100 Backstroke
Olympics (2012)
Worlds (2013)
SC Worlds (2012)
Ryan Murphy – 100 Backstroke
Olympics (2016)
Worlds (2023)
SC Worlds (2018/2022)
Aaron Peirsol – 200 Backstroke
Olympics (2004)
Worlds (2001/2003/2005)
SC Worlds (2002/2004)
Ryan Lochte – 200 Backstroke
Olympics (2008)
Worlds (2007/2011/2013)
SC Worlds (2006/2010)
Ryan Murphy – 200 Backstroke
Olympics (2016)
Worlds (2022)
SC Worlds (2022)
Evgeny Rylov – 200 Backstroke
Olympics (2020)
Worlds (2017/2019)
SC Worlds (2018)
Daniel Gyurta – 200 Breaststroke
Olympics (2012)
Worlds (2009/2011/2013)
SC Worlds (2012/2014)
Lars Frolander – 100 Butterfly
Olympics (2000)
Worlds (2001)
SC Worlds (1997/1999/2000)
Chad Le Clos – 200 Butterfly
Olympics (2012)
Worlds (2013/2017)
SC Worlds (2010/2014/2016/2022)
Ryan Lochte – 400 Individual Medley
Olympics (2012)
Worlds (2009/2011)
SC Worlds (2006/2008/2010)
