Bronte Campbell’s upset win over sister Cate had relay selectors in a tricky spot

BRONTE and Cate Campbell weren’t consulted by swimming selectors over which sister will anchor the medley relay.

Bronte Campbell celebrates her win in the 100m freestyle as Cate looks on. (AAP Image/Darren England)

AUSTRALIAN swim coach Jacco Verhaeren says star sisters Bronte Campbell and Cate Campbell were not consulted over the agonising decision to choose between them for Tuesday night’s 4x100m medley relay.

Glowing after a hugely successful swimming program at the Gold Coast Games, Verhaeren said the selections for tonight’s big relay were made on Monday night after Bronte smashed a personal best on her way to upsetting younger sister Cate in the women’s 100m freestyle final.

He said the selections will not be revealed until one hour before the event.

Verhaeren said it was not an overly difficult decision to make despite Cate delivering a freakish swim of 51.00 seconds in the women’s 4x100m relay final and Bronte then upstaging her in Monday’s final.

One of the sisters will join Emily Seebohm, Georgia Bohl and Emma McKeon in the relay team, but Verhaeren said he didn’t want to reveal his decision until Tuesday night.

“Other countries are doing that as well – to not reveal our strategy to other teams,” he said.

“No it was not that tough. You don’t swim the other one (Campbell sister) so you will never know what the other one would have done.”

On whether they got a say on the decision, Verharen said: “No. We make those decisions ourselves”.

He said Bronte and Cate’s coach Simon Cusack was “heavily involved” in the decision to try and make the tough call.

“There’s no doubt they both deserve it, but we need to make a call for what’s best for the team,” Verhaeren said.

He said Cate’s struggles to deliver in the 100m final after she famously finished sixth in the event at the Rio Olympics as the world record holder were not a concern.

“Bronte was swimming very good yesterday and that’s what it is,” he said. “It wouldn’t do Bronte’s performance right to say that Cate faltered.

“I think sometimes people underestimate Bronte. Which is not surprising with a sister like that, but she has been world champion in the 100m and the 50m freestyle. She’s an exceptional athlete.”

But Aussie swimming legend Ian Thorpe declared the elder sibling had not swum to her potential in the 100m freestyle.

“Cate Campbell’s (potential) is to be a 52 (second) or under swimmer,” Thorpe told Channel 7. “That is like what she did when she became the world champion. I think what we have realised with Bronte Campbell is she has had to overcome a physical challenge — whereas Cate Campbell’s challenge is a mental one.”

Cate Campbell and her sister Bronte Campbell on the podium. (AAP Image/Darren England)

Bronte Campbell was convinced she was racing for the last time before taking a 2018 break when she claimed a shock gold.

She even admitted the thought of some time off had inspired her win in a scorching 52.27 seconds — a career personal best for the former world champion. Yet her work may not be done.

Cate Campbell appeared a lock for the freestyle leg of the medley final on Tuesday’s last night of the swimming after her triumphant return from her own 2017 sabbatical with three gold.

“I was 100 per cent going out there thinking ‘his was my last race for the meet and the year,” Bronte said.

“I was saying ‘this is my last warm-up, this is my last suit’ before the race. But I might have to do the relay now. We will see how we go.

“Cate did an amazing split in the relay so if she did the relay I would be stoked.”

Cate Campbell said the national selectors’ final call may have come down to a round of “paper, scissors, rock”.

“If I don’t have to swim I get the night off and will cheer in the stands,” Cate Campbell said.

“If I do swim I get to swim for my country so they are both wins in my book.”

Despite clocking her fastest time since her breakthrough 50m-100m golds at the 2015 world titles, Bronte Campbell was still convinced she would take a three month post-Games break for “intense rehab”.

She is battling chronic right hip and left shoulder pain but also has back and neck issues.

— with AAP