Paris Olympics: Heartbreak for Kyle Chalmers and Australia's men's 4x100m freestyle relay team as they just miss out on gold

Kyle Chalmers turned in a brilliant leg for the Aussie men's 4x100m freestyle relay team in Paris but it wasn't enough to earn the reigning world champions gold in a thrilling race.

The team trailed for most of the first three legs of the clash until Kai Taylor brought them roaring back into medal contention with a stirring swim, followed by Chalmers bringing it home just behind the USA.

Swimming legend Ian Thorpe called it the 'best relay I've ever seen from Kyle Chalmers' after the Aussies just missed out on top spot on the podium.

Jack Cartwright and Flynn Southam left their teammates with some work to do after slipping to fourth in the first two legs of the contest.

But Chalmers enhanced his status as Australia's greatest male relayer with a trademark late surge in the anchor leg.

He dived in with Australia struggling but steamed to silver - his 100m split of 46.59 seconds was the fastest of any swimmer in the race.

And Chalmers' teammate Elijah Winnington thanked God for his silver medal in the men's 400m freestyle.

Three years ago at the Tokyo Games, Winnington entered as hot favourite but cold-crashed to seventh.

"For a couple of months there, I didn't think I was going to swim again," he said of his crushing post-Tokyo disappointment.

Winnington's compatriot in Paris and pre-race fancy Sam Short finished fourth.

Caeleb Dressel and his crew earned America their first swimming gold in Paris.     

More to come...