Australian champion swimmer Cate Campbell returned to the water on Thursday, swimming in a chlorinated pool for just the 4th time since the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Donning a Wonder Woman training suit, Campbell swam some laps at the Colmslie Aquatic Centre in Morningside, Queensland
The 30-year old Campbell says that to begin her comeback journey, she didn’t count laps or swim on any intervals; rather, that “today was purely about reconnecting with the water.”
In a lengthy Instagram post, Campbell evaluated the session as “slow and messy,” but she also says that she is working on cutting herself a break too.
“After taking the longest time out of the water in my life, I’m reminding myself that it’s okay to start from where I am – not from where I was, or where I want to be.”
Campbell is the current World Record holder in the women’s 100 meter freestyle in short course and is the former World Record holder in the same event in long course. In total, her Olympic career earned her four gold medals, a silver, and three bronze medals. Of those eight medals, six have come in relays – including gold as the anchor of both the 400 medley relay and a World Record setting 400 free relay in Tokyo. She also picked up an individual bronze medal in the 100 free in Tokyo.
She is also a four-time World Champion, including an individual gold in the 100 free in 2013.
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Since the Tokyo Olympic Games, Campbell has become an increasingly-vocal advocate for mental health in athletes as she reflected on her own career in the pool.
In February, Campbell reaffirmed her commitment to training for the Paris 2024 Olympics, saying that she would spend some time in Europe to renew her spark for the sport.
The Australians are still near-automatic for gold medals in the 400 free relay. That offers Campbell a good shot at more hardware at the Paris 2024 even as her specialty events, the 50 and 100 free, have become more competitive since the Tokyo Olympics.
Will be interesting to see if the hunger really is there; the next nine months should tell us something.
Her most likely avenue to Paris selection is obviously via the 4X100 relay. Given the presence of so many other AUS sub53 performers; it’s hard to see her snagging an individual spot but if she’s part of the 100 final at 2024 Trials and can still pull out a sub53 flat start then she certainly has to be considered as a heats option.
The other potential avenue is via the 50. Given McKeon was still capable of sub24 off a limited build-up; then one spot looks locked-in but whilst Harris and Jack have put up very respectable and international class times,… Read more »
Every chance to medal in 5 consecutive Olympics…. that must be rare.
Cate will bid for her 4 straight 4x 100 free gold, what an amazing feat. She has been a beast of a relay swimmer for Australia.
While her individual Olympic record in sprint free doesn’t hold as well as her status, she’s been a great swimmer for Australia.
In other news: FINA has published the event schedule for SC worlds and it’s very different from last year with the 800 and 1500 free being timed finals.
Interesting. Thanks Troyy
Never seen the men’s and women’s events back to back at a major meet before, also what the hell is that last day, 10 finals sounds brilliant but I can already see myself tearing my hair out over those medal ceremonies after every event
I’m with you in this
maybe there is hope that Dressel comes back
I think Dressel will come back. Hopefully.
The battle for that Paris relay team will be exciting
Emma
Cate
Bronte
Madi
MOC
Meg
Shayna
Throw in the three promising juniors Hannah Casey, Olivia Wunsch and Milla Jansen.
I don’t think Bronte is going to stick around for Paris
That seems to be the case. Whilst C1 has returned to Brisbane and is now back training, C2 appears to be settled in Sydney and no signs as yet of returning to training.
Honestly , if Australia could bring two freestyle teams, they will win gold and silver in paris
If we play the lifetime best game:
Emma: 51.96
Cate: 52.03
Bronte: 52.27
Mollie: 52.49
3:28.75
Simone: 52.04
Mallory: 52.59
Huske: 52.92
Weitzel: 52.99
2:30.54
Shayna: 52.60
Maddie: 52.76
Meg: 52.92
Titmus: 53.68
2:31.96
So Australia currently has depth in active swimmers’ best times, but not quite enough to put the pas a US A team
You could even the teams out and get both under 3:30.54 but it’d be a close thing. C1 at her peak was also splitting 1 second faster than her flat start.
51.96 McKeon
52.03 C1
52.60 Jack
53.68 Titmus
3:30.27
52.76 Wilson
52.92 Harris
52.27 C2
52.49 O’Callaghan
3:30.44
Kind of a mute point since you only get to enter 1 relay. they could try to do a silver medal time in prelims I suppose. Also top 2 American are way off their times right now.
They did in Tokyo.
Yeah was going to say the same thing. Australia’s prelims relay in Tokyo would have won gold anyway.
But it wasn’t a full team swap out.
No, they will never do a full team swap out, it’s the first relay event & a very god time for the young & inexperience to have a hit out & feel that Olympic type pressure.
After what happened in Tokyo in the 4×200 FR, there is no way they’ll ever do a full-team swap again for a FR relay.
They had Titmus and Throssell, who are both 53s flat-start, with them in Tokyo but didn’t use on their 4×100 FR relays. If they wanted to, they probably could’ve done a full team swap in some way and put up a prelim time that would’ve still won gold (Canada was over 1s back).
Full team swaps, at least for the US, weren’t uncommon 30-40 years ago but with the caps on total numbers and limits/rules on “relay only” selections; they’re realistically consigned to the history books even if the likes of USA or AUS (women) could still notionally do so.
BTW, whilst Throssell has some history of 53sec; Titmus didn’t break 54 until this year. Having said that, given her program, she’s more likely a contingency resource for the 4X100 rather than being a likely co-opt.
What is the latest status report about changes to Swim AUS culture with regard to treatment of its female swimmers and the 45 overall recommendations made by the independent commission? I know that Cate has been among the most outspoken regarding issues of body shaming, weighing of athletes, etc. and I am wondering if she feels comfortable with the program’s current direction.
https://staging2.swimswam.com/body-shaming-among-topics-in-cate-campbells-book-with-sister-bronte/
I was interested in Braden’s mention in an earlier article as to the discussion at ASCA with regard to the physique of “skinny legend” David Popivici. Would there have been similar interest (or an uproar?) if there had been a discussion at ASCA regarding the physiques of, say, many 50m, 100m and 200m Australian female freestylers given Cate Campbell’s on-the-record comments regarding Swim AUS?