By many standards, Australian sprinter Bronte Campbell raced her way to a relatively successful Rio Games, having been a critical member of the World Record-setting women’s 4x100m freestyle relay. After contributing a mega split of 52.15 as part of that relay, Campbell also finished 4th in the women’s 100m individual freestyle (53.04) and 7th overall in the 50m splash n’ dash (24.42).
But considering that Campbell was a double World Champion in 2015, winning both 50 and 100m freestyle events while also carrying some of the world’s fastest performances headed into the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, the fact she came short of an individual medal was disappointing. However, Campbell’s medal outcome was not entirely surprising, given the fact the 21-year-old had been battling both hip and shoulder injuries leading up to the Games.
The Commercial club swimmer delayed a cortisone injection until after the Australian Olympic Trials and postponed receiving a full diagnosis until after returning from Rio. Now, however, Campbell is targeting a training return date of October 1st, after having taken a couple of months off.
“I haven’t had more than three weeks out of the pool in a row since I was 12 so I’m enjoying what Cate is like with dry hair and wearing perfume instead of chlorine. I’ll be training on October 1 and if I feel I’ve done enough work I’ll enter the Australian short course titles in Brisbane (November 3-5).” (Courier Mail)
“If I was fast enough there, the worlds are in December but for me right now it’s making sure my body holds up, and will for the next four years.’’ (Courier Mail) The 2016 FINA World Short Course Championships are slated for December 6th-11th in Windsor, Ontario, Canada.
Sister Cate Campbell, on the other hand, will continue to remain dry, as the 24-year-old is looking at an October timeframe for her hernia surgery. Cate reportedly developed the hernia 3 months ago, but was not able to have the surgery before Rio for fear it would disrupt her training and preparation.
She was 5th in the 50 free and 6th in the 100 in Rio, though she did win gold with Bronte, clocking the world’s fastest split as part of the 4×100 free relay world record.
Realistically C1’s body is not going to hold out for another full 4 year cycle; Rio WAS her prime window of opportunity which, for better or worse, she failed to grasp. My suspicion is that she’s most likely to “pull the rip-cord” after CommGames in early 2018 which will be on the Gold Coast; essentially just down the road from home (Brisbane). C2, having come on the scene several years later, MAY be able to make it to Tokyo unless injuries prove too problematical.
A lot of swimmers will retire after The GC comms . I personally dislike it when any Oz athlete does less than expected & immediately pipes up ‘ ooooooh bring X games & i’ll be better ! O they won’t .
I’m hoping for the team to get banned completely . Surely their obnoxious Chef deMission disqualifies them ever being nvited again .Talk about embarrassing .
Are you really making an Aussie-specific argument, that they as a nation are somehow different than everyoneyone else? Irony? I don’t get it, sorry.
As befits the Olympics they are . They have attended every olympics since 1896 .The chances of them improving are minmal . 30 is when to call it quits .Jimi & co went out at 27 at the very top of their game.
In parallel Olympics that would be 2004 when Australia really did peak .
So after 120 continual years of organisational effort they managed to send out Kitty Chiller who got 10 athletes sent to prison .As to Tokyo we simply cannot improve on OurDawnie climbing the pole & stealing the flag & subsequently being banned for 10 years . How can we top that?
Well, Dara Torres won a silver at age whatever she was, and Tony Ervin won a gold at 35, so anything’s possible. It is a shame when great swimmers never match up to the Olympic years.
why is Cate waiting so long to have her hernia fixed?
Cate, mentioned previously she was going on a holiday in September. Maybe that’s the reason she has chosen to delay the surgery
Probably because that’s when she can get it done on her public health plan. Why bother paying to get it done asap now that Rio is over.
Has been.