Super sisters Cate and Bronte Campbell reach 100m final in style

Cate Campbell has set another Olympic record when qualifying for the women’s 100m freestyle final at the Rio Games along with sister Bronte who qualified fifth fastest.

Cate Campbell broke the 100m freestyle Olympic record for the second time in a day

Australian swimmer Cate Campbell has set another Olympic record when qualifying for the women’s 100m freestyle final at the Rio Games.

Cate won her semi-final on Wednesday night in 52.71 seconds, some 0.07s quicker than the Olympic record she set earlier in the day in her heat.

Campbell eased up over the final few meters and touched the wall just 0.01s ahead of 16-year-old Canadian Penny Oleksiak, who set a world junior record of 52.72s to qualify second quickest.

Cate Campbell broke the 100m freestyle Olympic record in her heat and again in the semi-final

American Simone Manuel was third fastest after winning the first of the two semi-finals in 53.11s, followed by Sweden’s 100m butterfly gold medallist Sarah Sjostrom.

Campbell’s younger sister Bronte also advanced to Thursday night’s final, clocking 53.29s to be fifth-fastest qualifier.

World record holder Cate said she planned to soak up the experience of her first individual 100m freestyle Olympic final.

“It has taken me three times (Olympics) to get here ... I am just going to go out there and enjoy tomorrow night,” she said.

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Sibling Bronte said racing in the Olympic final realised a long-held dream.

“To stand up with seven other girls from the rest of the world to compete for your country, that is all I have dreamt about since I was a little girl,” she said.

“Tomorrow is the realisation of my dream. I can’t wait to get out there and race because I love it.”

The Campbell sisters teamed up to help Australia win the 4x100m freestyle relay on Saturday and are both chasing their second gold medals in Rio.

Originally published as Super sisters Cate and Bronte Campbell reach 100m final in style