Cate Campbell’s Olympics dream ends in tears

There was hardly a dry eye at the Brisbane Aquatic Centre as Cate Campbell’s bid for one last lap at the Olympics ended in tears. Read what her fellow swimmers had to say about Australia’s swim queen.

Cate Campbell’s bid for one last lap at the Olympics has ended in tears after Australia’s swim queen finished seventh in an emotional 50m freestyle final at the national trials for Paris.

Needing to place in the top two, Campbell swam her heart out — as she always has — but just couldn’t get her hands on the wall quick enough.

There was hardly a dry eye at the Brisbane Aquatic Centre when the race finished as Cate raised her arm and waved goodbye to the crowd, then stayed in the water as every one of the competitors in the final came over to her lane and hugged her.

“It is bittersweet. It’s not the fairytale ending that I had hoped for, that I’d worked so hard for,” Campbell said.

Cate Campbell reacts after finishing seventh in the 50m freestyle final. Picture: Getty Images

“The mind was willing but the body was a little bit lacking. But that’s sport. That’s why we love it so much.

“I don’t want to take away from anyone who has been in the pool here. I have loved watching every single person. That moment with the girls in the water just before was so incredibly special. I am so thankful for every single person who I’ve met along this incredible journey.

“It’s very hard when you exist in elite sport where you can often be measured by what you have achieved and the medals that you’ve won, the medals that you’ve lost and I’ve done both of those things.

“So to have that moment and to be remembered, hopefully, for the person I am and the competitor that I’ve been is a legacy I would like to leave in the pool and something that that moment really cemented for me.”

Cate’s time of 24.76 seconds was 0.98 behind the Australian record of 23.78, which she set in 2018 and still stands.

Shayna Jack won the final in 23.99, becoming just the fourth Australian woman to break 24 seconds for the single lap dash.

Meg Harris finished runner-up in 24.47 to secure her second individual swim in Paris.

Emma McKeon, who won the 50m gold at the last Olympics in Tokyo, came third, missing out on the chance to defend her crown.

Bronte Campbell came fifth. She had already qualified for the 4x100m relay, ensuring she joined her older sister Cate, Emily Seebohm and Cam McEvoy as the only Aussies to swim at four Olympics.

Campbell didn’t make the relay after finishing ninth so the 50m was her last shot at getting on the team for Paris, but it turned out to be her last race because she had already said she would retire this year.

Cate Campbell thanks the crowd after the 50m freestyle final. Picture: Getty Images

Campbell leaves the sport as one Australia’s greatest swimmers, winning eight Olympic medals (4 gold, 1 silver, 3 bronze) and 12 world championship medals (4 gold, 5 silver, 3 bronze).

She held the world record from July 2016 to July 2017 and was given the ultimate honour of carrying the Australian flag at the Tokyo Olympics, where she anchored Australia to gold medals in the 4x100m freestyle and 4x100m medley relays.

“I made my first team when I was 15 years old, swam at my first Olympics when I was 16,” Cate said.

“I’m now 32 and I just had one of my favourite moments in the pool.”

The tributes began flowing right away with Jack thanking Cate for her helping through those dark days when she was suspended.

“Cate is someone who I have looked up to for a very long time and who has mentored me along through my journey, so we can’t thank Cate enough for everything she has done,” Jack said.

“She is an inspiration to us all and always will be.”

Australian head coach Rohan Taylor said Campbell was a legend of the sport.

“Her contribution is immense. Cate has been obviously one of the best relay swimmers in the world, consistently over time,” he said.

“Her presence on the team, her leadership, her poise, who she is as a person is probably the key thing. Her legacy in swimming is undeniable.”

On Friday, Cate’s sister Bronte – who qualified for Paris by finishing fourth in the 100m freestyle final – fought back tears as she spoke about her older sibling, who she teamed up with to win relay golds at the last two Olympics.

Bronte and Cate Campbell supporting research for ovarian cancer. Picture: Supplied.

“I felt devastated for my sister but she is absolutely incredible,” Bronte said.

“She held this individual spot for 100m freestyle for 11 years. I think that’s got to be a record in Australia. It’s such a hard thing to do.

“I want to pay homage to what an incredible athlete she is. I know she made me a better swimmer.

“These girls would have grown up watching her swim. So even though she wasn’t there with us in the pool tonight she’s still a huge part of our success.”

Shayna Jack, who finished second in the final to book her first individual swim at an Olympics, also paid a rich tribute to Cate, who supported while she was serving a two-year ban for a doping infraction she maintains she was innocent of.

Bronte Campbell (L) embraces Shayna Jack following the women's 100m freestyle final. Picture: Patrick Hamilton / AFP

“Cate is one of those phenomenons that will last forever,” Jack said.

“I grew up idolising Cate and then I trained with Cate and then during my time (out.)

“Cate became a massive mentor because she’s been through, you know, some difficult times and her past so I really was grateful for every bit of wisdom she could pass on.

“For myself, I’ve just wanted to be like a beacon like that as well. So I’m taking on any bit of responsibility that she’s passed down. And just trying to do that with pride. And absolutely represent her and all the past Olympians.”

Cate Campbell made her Olympic debut at Beijing in 2008 and reappeared at London (2012), Rio de Janeiro (2016) and Tokyo (2021), where she carried the Australian flag at the Opening Ceremony and won two gold medals in relays and a bronze in the 100m freestyle.

She took 18 months off after Tokyo and indulged in her other passions, including travel, media commentary and sports administration, before the lure of one last Olympics became too irresistible and she plunged back into training for one last shot at glory.

An exasperated Cate Campbell after her heat. Picture: Patrick Hamilton / AFP

“I’m approaching this Paris Games in a way that I have never approached a competition before, in that I know it will be my last competition,’’ she told Code Sports last year.

“There’s something really beautiful in that because I’m making sure that I make the most of every opportunity that’s coming my way.”

With Australia boasting six of the 12 fastest women in history, including Cate (who set a then-world record of 52.06 in 2016), there was always going to be someone left disappointed because the competition for places was so intense.

“This is one of the hardest sports in the world,” Bronte said.

“The 100m freestyle in Australia has so much depth. We’re proud of what we’re built here. I’m grateful to be part of the team again.”

Originally published as Cate Campbell’s Olympics dream ends in tears