Cameras capture Cate Campbell’s reaction to sister Bronte leading Australia to relay gold

THE crowd went wild for Bronte Campbell’s moment of triumph — but cameras caught her sister Cate’s indifferent response.

Cate Campbell watched on as sister Bronte led Australia to another gold medal in the pool.

VIDEO footage has captured the moment Aussie swim superstar Cate Campbell appeared to give sister Bronte’s golden relay moment the cold shoulder.

On a night of drama at the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre, Bronte Campbell’s explosive finish to storm over the top of Canada in the women’s 4x100m medley relay final became — in an instant — one of the unforgettable moments of the entire two-week event.

There was pandemonium in and out of the pool as the Aussie team of Emily Seebohm, Georgia Bohl, Emma McKeon and Campbell snuck home against Canada by just 0.74 seconds on Tuesday night.

Lost in the wild scenes of celebration was a Channel 7 camera shot which appeared to show benched star Cate Campbell’s muted celebrations.

The emotionless expression on the 25-year-old’s face as the stadium erupted around her led some on social media to suggest the triple gold medallist at these Games was affected by the tough decision to overlook her for selection in the final women’s event of the Commonwealth Games swim program.

Did anyone else see the look on Cate Campbells face after the relay? She looked ANGRY! Move over and let Bronte have a go. #GC2018 #teamaus

— GoddessBree (@SecewtB) April 10, 2018

Cate Campbell looking very pleased for her sister 😳

— Jake Montgomery (@JMont99) April 10, 2018

However, speaking on Sunrise on Wednesday morning Cate said sitting in the stands watching Australia dominate on the final night of the swim program was one of her favourite memories from the Games.

“For me, it was the crowd,” she said.

“The atmosphere that was in that stadium. If there was a roof it would have been blown off. It was incredible. And I would have to say last night, being in the stands watching and I think we won eight gold medals. Eight gold medals in one night.

“The Poms were sitting next to us and every time the national anthem came on they were like, ‘Oh god, not this song again.’ And we were like, ‘Yes! Girt by sea!’”

Cate Campbell was asked one question by Channel 7 on Tuesday night after the relays — and said it was a privilege to be part of the Aussie team which has set a new record of 28 gold medals, 21 silvers and 24 bronze in a single Commonwealth Games meeting.

“These swimmer have swum out of their skin,” she said. “The crowd lifted us all the way. It’s been a privilege to be part of the team.”

Cate was overlooked for a relay berth by Australian swimming head coach Jacco Verhaeren on Monday night after Bronte smashed a personal best on her way to upsetting her sister in the women’s 100m freestyle final.

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 freestyle relay final.

It proved to be a masterstroke as Bronte came from the clouds in the final 50m to fight past Canada’s Taylor Ruck.

Bronte’s swim saw her finish the Commonwealth Games with three gold medals and one silver. Cate Campbell also finished the Games with a superhuman haul of three golds and a silver — having missed out on the medley relay.

Bronte anchored the 4x100m medley relay team to perfection.

The sisters showed pure class and sportsmanship on Monday night when Bronte ambushed her sister in the 100m freestyle final and — with the exception of Cate’s peeved expression in the stands — they showed perfect sportsmanship on Tuesday night.

Bronte spoke glowingly of Cate’s incredible achievements this Games, but also said she did not speak with her sister in the lead-up to the medley relay.

“It could have gone either way, I would have been happy if Cate had done it, it would have been a fair call as well,” Bronte said of the decision to put her in the team ahead of Cate.

“The chose to give me the spot, I’m really honoured and pleased that they did.”

When asked if Cate spoke to her before Tuesday night’s program, she said: “Not really, Cate knows I like to do my own thing.

“She’s done amazing things in relays in the past, but she knows I like to do my own thing and let me be.”

Cate and Bronte were all smiles on the podium after the 100m freestyle final.

Aussie swimming legend Ian Thorpe declared the mental demons that have haunted Cate Campbell since her struggle in the 100m freestyle final at the Rio Olympics in 2016 won’t have been vanquished by her hugely impressive performances on the Gold Coast.

Having set the world record in the 100m freestyle just one month before the 2016 Games, Campbell famously finished sixth in the final.

Thorpe previously said winning the 100m freestyle final on the Gold Coast would have been a “defining moment” of her carer — but instead Bronte produced a personal best time to blow her out of the water.

The Olympic legend on Tuesday night said the pain will still be there for Cate, but thinks the ache will have been diminished by the fact it was her sister who brought her undone.

“Bronte’s swim was one of the best swims in the world ever,” Thorpe told Channel 7 of Bronte’s 100m freestyle final swim.

“Bronte swam to her ability and we see the reaction from Bronte.

“With Bronte this is what people have always felt she’s capable of. That kind of time. Cate Campbell, her potential, she can swim under 52 seconds. So, this was really a physical battle for Bronte Campbell to be able to get up and do it. We know she has injury concerns at this stage.

“It’s a mental battle for Cate Campbell in the 100m. She swam so well in the relay. So well in the 50m, both free(style) and (butter)fly. She was in great shape. She was in sub 52 (seconds) shape. She’s the best I have seen her look. She looks fantastic.

“She was across every one of those races, but I think what everyone has underestimated is the weight of her own expectations to return in the 100m freestyle. That was her event. She owned that event in the lead up to the Olympic Games and there’s still some part of her that is recovering from that. I think it may have made it a little bit easier for her given it was her sister.

“They don’t fight. They really love each other.”