IT’S amazing how a gold medal can change your life.

Superfish Kyle Chalmers is clearly a very different young man to the teenager that arrived in Brazil for the Rio Olympics uncertain about his future as a swimmer.

Crowned one of the heroes of Australia’s Olympic campaign, the 100m freestyle Olympic champion even admitted he refused to wear his Olympic haul — one gold medal and two bronze medals — around the Athlete’s Village or even at official Olympic functions — unless forced to during presentation ceremonies or photo shoots.

Since arriving back from Rio to adoring fans around Australia he has changed his tune.

The normally reserved 18-year-old opened up about his new Olympic spirit when speaking with Adelaide’s Mix 102.3.

Chalmers revealed he celebrated his Olympic success by adding some permanent artwork to his previously blank canvas complexion.

“I went pretty hard on Saturday,” Chalmers said.

“I went and got the Olympic rings on my ribs.

“And then I went and got some Roman numerals on my wrists. It was the 31st Olympics, so I got the number on there.

“And then I got the Olympic motto — Citius, Altius, Fortius — on my forearm as well.”

He said it took him four days to finally show his family his fancy ink.

“They hadn’t seen it until last night when I got home,” he said.

“It’s because I got them and then went straight to Melbourne. They’re not too fussed about it. Mum’s just told me no more for now.”

Celebrating sporting success with tattoos is a family tradition. Chalmers said his dad, former AFL footballer Brett Chalmers, also celebrated his successes on the footy field with ink.

Chalmers senior, who played four seasons with the Adelaide Crows and two with Port Adelaide Power, celebrated his premiership wins with an ankle tattoo.

Chalmers, who previously doubted his decision to select swimming over a potential career as an Aussie rules footballer appears a new man.

During the second week of the Games in Rio, Chalmers had to be prompted — even by idols he looked up to as a kid — to show a bit of pride in his incredible achievements in the Rio pool.

His refusal to wear his shiny new medals was noticed by many on the sporting circuit.

Manu Ginobili of the San Antonio Spurs noticed Chalmers’ kept his Olympic prizes in his pocket and not around his neck — and snatched it from him on a bus in Rio.

“Why aren’t you wearing this?” Ginobili asked, according to Chalmers.

“You should be proud of yourself!”

Surprisingly, that wasn’t the first time the swimmer from Adelaide was approached by an NBA great. Kevin Durant sent him a motivational video before his medal-winning event.

“That was pretty surreal for me, because it’s someone I’ve looked up to and watched play NBA for so long,” Chalmers said in an interview with Mix102.3 Adelaide.

Chalmers admitted to not enjoying wearing the medal, saying he didn’t like flaunting his successes in public.

“I’m not someone who likes wearing the medal around — I’ve never really liked to show off medals.

“Everyone seems to sort of change as a person once winning a gold medal.”

Chalmers said one of the best parts about his Rio campaign was having his family there in support of him and feeling their elation when he touched the final wall of the pool to claim gold.

“Being able to share that experience with my family in Rio was unreal for me.

“Seeing them in the stands so happily — it was special.

“I still don’t think it’s actually sunk in properly.”

Chalmers was diagnosed with pneumonia after returning from Rio after describing his life had become a “rollercoaster”.

“You come off such a massive high winning an Olympic medal,” the ABC reported him he saying.

“You get thrown into doing all this media and appearances for people.

“It’s been a massive couple of weeks actually and my body’s starting to feel it. I’m feeling a little run down.”