‘It’s always a shock’: Cate Campbell on stepping away from the pool and looking beyond

Retirement has left former Olympic champion swimmer Cate Campbell questioning what her future holds beyond the pool.

Retirement has been scarier than Cate Campbell expected.

The big change has left the former Olympic champion swimmer questioning what her future holds beyond the pool.

“Life is looking very different, and it’s definitely taking some time to adjust, but I’m sort of taking the rest of the year to enjoy myself before I begin to really think about what I’m going to do for the next 30 years of my life,” Campbell told Confidential.

“I think it’s always a shock, and it’s difficult, because you come from something that consumes your whole life and a lot of your identity.

Campbell, 32, has a swag of Olympic medals – including four gold – to her name from representing Australia at Beijing, London, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo.

Olympic swimmer Cate Campbell pictured at Bondi Beach this morning as an ambassador for Avene Australia. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

She is learning to sit with the “discomfort” as she looks onto a blank horizon and calendar.

It is a point she referenced during her commentating gig for the recent Paris Olympics.

“I have gone from having a goal and a purpose and a direction to suddenly now not having anything to focus on, which for me, I find very, very scary because swimming and competing at the next Olympic Games has always been my next challenge,” she explained.

“I don’t want to rush into something that maybe isn’t the right fit for me and even though I feel very uncomfortable that I can’t sit here and tell you exactly what I’m going to be doing next year, I am able to sit here and say that it’s okay that I feel this uncomfortable, but I know that I’m going to be able to figure it out.”

The melanoma survivor and Avene Suncare Ambassador is using some of her free time to educate Australians on skin cancer.

Cate Campbell sheds a tear as she is embraced by her fellow competitors following the women's 50m freestyle final during the Australian Swimming Trials at Brisbane Aquatic Centre on June 15, 2024.

Campbell was diagnosed with stage one melanoma in 2018, leaving her with a scar down her arm and a profound sense of urgency to spread the message about skin health.

“We really need to try and change the sort of bronzed Aussie stereotype which is so cemented in our culture and particularly for our young people,” she said.

“I had left my skin checks for far too long, and I hadn’t been vigilant with SBF application, and I’m outdoors all the time, it’s my happy place. Since then, I have made sure that I’ve integrated sunscreen into my regular daily routine, and made sure that I’ve helped spread the word.”

Do you have a story for The Daily Telegraph? Message 0481 056 618 or email [e-mail]