On Tuesday morning he and fiancee Ellie Bell had welcomed their son, Robert Samuel Chalmers, into the world and started an exciting new chapter of their lives.
But the 26-year-old still got his job done in the UK Athletics Championships at Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium, winning Sunday’s 400m hurdles final in 49.05sec. despite easing over the line in celebration.
He promptly shared the celebrations with his partner and newborn of a win that also practically guarantees his selection for August’s European Championships, which will unfold at the same venue.
‘Being back here in August is the plan,’ Chalmers said.
‘I want to come here, get a medal for Great Britain, but today there’s an amazing field out there I’ve got to beat.
‘I knew I was the best there today, but I’ve had a hard week, so I really had to dig deep.
‘Coming over hurdle eight to 10 I knew I had it, so I just soaked it in.’
Of his other major personal milestone this week, becoming a father, he added: ‘I get teary when I think about it.
‘Just seeing her and him just makes me so emotional. It’s so lovely and I’m so proud of her – she’s been through a lot more than I have and she’s taken to it so well.’
Chalmers had looked sharp in the final despite any lost sleep and training time, taking the lead early on and not relenting.
Last year’s foil Tyri Donovan took a heavy fall on the penultimate hurdle and, with enough time in the bank on his immediate competitors, the Sarnian commenced his celebrations about 25m out. He marked his return to the top of the British podium following a wonderful win streak spanning 2020 to 2024.
A close race-off for the remaining medals had Joshua Faulds edging silver in 49.36, just 0.02sec. ahead of Jake Minshull.
That Seamus Derbyshire settled for fourth with 49.43 proved further testament to the current depth of long-hurdles talent.
The Guernsey great had won the second of Saturday’s heats relatively comfortably after cruising over the dying metres in 50.22, still leading in BUCS champion Onyeka Okoh by 0.28sec.
This contrasted with a super-tight first heat, where Derbyshire held off a rallying Faulds as they shared the winning time of 49.63, while Minshull took the third preliminary in 49.66.
Fellow Commonwealth Games pick Abi Galpin had continued her comeback from injury with an outing over 200m.
Competing within Sunday’s star-studded series of heats, Galpin was not far outside her season’s best with a 24.46 into a very mild headwind.
Her heat was dominated by 2023 British Indoor champion Sucess Eduan, with Guernsey’s fastest woman finishing fifth of the six starters. Galpin went out at that point ranked 23rd quickest of the 28 entries.
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