The five places that changed my life: Kyle Chalmers, Australian swimmer

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL

This city will always hold a significant relevance for me as it is where I won my Olympic gold medal, at age 18, "coming from nowhere" as people said, to win the 100 metres freestyle. The whole city was abuzz with colour and excitement, and though it's been a long journey for me since then, with plenty of ups and downs, including surgery for a heart condition in 2017, recalling those incredible – and my first – Olympic Games, the extraordinary atmosphere there and how my life changed in Rio, it still inspires me to strive to do my best.

MUNICH, GERMANY

Not only is Munich picturesque, it is also home to the head office of Adidas, which is my major sponsor. I went to Munich to sign with them when I was 17 and got to spend time in the city. I was really struck by the history there, from the centuries-old palaces to the sites with World War II significance. For a young kid from country South Australia, I felt so lucky to be there. Like all the places my sport has taken me, it expanded my understanding of, and the way I see, the world.

TOKYO, JAPAN

This city will always be significant for me as it is the city where I first represented Australia, at junior level in 2013. I won my first international medal there. The Japanese people are so warm and welcoming and Tokyo is such a unique city, steeped in tradition but so modern and into pop culture. Another contrast is how fast-paced it can be, yet in spots such as temples and even in back streets, so serene and quiet. It's an intriguing place.

ADELAIDE

Although Port Lincoln is where I spent most of my childhood, Adelaide is now my home. It was also the beginning of my journey to elite swimming as it was there where I first swam in a major swim meet in 2008 and qualified for the South Australian state team. Amongst my hectic schedule and travel, Adelaide's quiet streets and relaxed vibe keeps me grounded and focused throughout the year. It's a big country town in some ways, which I love, but there's so much to do and it's a great social city, with awesome festivals, a buzzing art scene and great little bars and restaurants.

SYDNEY

Ian Thorpe had been my idol and subsequently has become my mentor throughout my journey to Olympic gold. Sydney will always be close to my heart as it was here where I broke one of Ian's Australian age group records for the first time and qualified for my first senior Australian swim team. Ian has always told me to balance all the hard work with having fun. It's simple, but great advice. I've been so fortunate to have the support of great people like him.

South Australian Kyle Chalmers was a 2014 Youth Olympian and made his medal-winning World Championships debut in 2015 in Kazan, Russia. One week after competing in Russia he competed at the World Junior Championships in Singapore where he won seven medals, including three gold. His 2016 gold medal performance at the Rio Olympics announced him as a star of the Australian Swimming Team. Chalmers is part of the South Australian Tourism Commission "5 days of wonder" campaign. See southaustralia.com