NewsBite

Cate, Bronte Campbell miss out on Olympic 100m freestyle medals

THE golden result every Australian swimming fan had been dreaming failed to materialise in Rio as Cate and Bronte Campbell finished outside the medals in the women’s 100m freestyle final.

Australia’s Cate Campbell with sister Bronte after finishing sixth and fourth in the Women’s 100m Freestyle Final. Picture. Brett Costello
Australia’s Cate Campbell with sister Bronte after finishing sixth and fourth in the Women’s 100m Freestyle Final. Picture. Brett Costello

THE golden result every Australian swimming fan had been dreaming of failed to materialise in Rio as Cate and Bronte Campbell finished outside the medals in the women’s 100m freestyle final.

Cate, the world-record holder, and Bronte, the reigning world champion, were one and two at the halfway mark, but faded over the final 25m to finish sixth and fourth respectively.

Cate’s time of 53.24 was way off the 52.07 she clocked in setting a new world mark last month, while Bronte swam 53.04 as Simone Manuel (USA) and Penny Oleksiak (Canada) finished in a dead heat for gold at 52.70.

““That hurt. Not as much as (the result is) hurting right now,” Cate told Channel 7 after the race.

“I’ve always said I didn’t need a gold medal to have self worth and I guess that’s being put to the test right now. I’ve still got the 50m to go. Thank you to everyone for your support, I know there are a whole heap of people watching back home.”

Bronte, who started her swimming journey with Cate at Indooroopilly Swim Club before joining Valley-based Commercial three years ago, was more positive.

“I said to my coach before I left, ‘I’ve already won, I get to swim an Olympic final with my sister’,” the 22-year-old said.

“I have no regrets. Obviously you want the result to be different ... but I don’t think either of us have anything to be ashamed of.”

Australia's silver medal winner Mitch Larkin competes in the men's 200 metre backstroke final.
Australia's silver medal winner Mitch Larkin competes in the men's 200 metre backstroke final.

LARKIN WINS SILVER

There was better news for St Peters Western Swim Club’s Mitch Larkin, who erased the disappointment of his fourth-placed finish in the 100m backstroke to claim silver in the 200m event.

The 23-year-old (1:53.96) led at the halfway mark, before being reeled in by American Ryan Murphy (1:53.62).

“(I’m) speechless, to be honest. I’m pretty happy with silver. The goal was obviously to win gold ... but going into tonight I just wanted to stand on the podium,” the John Paul College product said.

“I knew the back end of the races is where the medals would be won. Guys have been training for four years for this week. It really shows and it’s pretty incredible to come away with a medal.”

SEEBOHM’S HEARTACHE

Emily Seebohm’s Olympic heartache continued as the 2015 200m backstroke world champion failed to make the final after finishing sixth in the first semi in a time of 2:09.39.

“I’m not surprised, I haven’t been on my game,” said the former St John Fisher College student, who was seventh in the 100m final earlier in the week.

“It’s just disappointing to have an average Games. I have no idea (why), which makes it even worse.”

McKEOWN MISSES

Bellmere’s Taylor McKeown could not hide her disappointment at finishing fifth in the women’s 200m breaststroke final.

The Redcliffe-born 21-year-old was the fastest qualifier for the final and led at the 100m mark, before clocking a time of 2:22.43 as Japan’s Rie Kaneto (2:20.30) stormed to victory.

“I probably panicked a little bit in that race. I was a little bit nervous being my first Olympic final. Hopefully I can learn from that for next time,” McKeown said.

“I was probably more stoked with my semi final swim because of how relaxed I stayed. I tried to remain as chilled out as I could. I’m not too happy with that result considering I was over a second out from my PB, but I’ll learn from that.”

Original URL: https://www.couriermail.com.au/questnews/cate-bronte-campbell-miss-out-on-olympic-100m-freestyle-medals/news-story/c26eba1562fbd994d2cc49c167d768fa