Cate Campbell swims fastest ever relay split to lead women’s 4x100m freestyle team to gold

IN her first major international meet since taking a post-Rio sabbatical year in 2017, Cate Campbell put her rivals on notice with a gobsmacking time as she and her relay team-mates smashed their own world record en-route to gold.

DEATH, taxes and gold medals from the 4x100m women’s freestyle team. Oh, and throw in world records, too.

There are few certainties in life, let alone elite sport, but Australia’s golden girls continued their relay dominance by claiming a sixth consecutive Commonwealth Games gold medal on the Gold Coast last night.

It stretched Australia’s unbeaten run in the 4x100m women’s freestyle in the Commonwealth Games to two decades, and yet again it was done with the icing of a world record.

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GOLD AND A WORLD RECORD. 🔥🥇🙌

What a way to finish the opening night of #GC2018- Dominance from our Aussie women in the 4x100m Freestyle. @SamsungAU #MakeItEpic #WithGalaxy pic.twitter.com/gjZiMFPQFy

— 7CommGames (@7CommGames) April 5, 2018

After Shayna Jack, Bronte Campbell and Emma McKeon had built up a commanding lead over rivals Canada, returning superstar Cate Campbell took on the red line over her 100 metres and smashed it.

The Aussie girls stopped the clock at a stunning 3:30.05 — over half a second faster than the world record they set in winning Olympic gold in Rio in 2016.

Cate Campbell, in her first major international meet since taking a post-Rio sabbatical year in 2017, swam her last lap with a flying start in a gobsmacking 51 seconds flat.

It was a triumphant comeback for the elder Campbell and set a good tone for a shot at taking down Canada’s Olympic champ Penny Oleksiak in 100m. The young Canadian fell way off the pace with a 54.33 on the third leg, up against McKeon in a powerhouse swim. The local favourite showed no signs of fatigue despite swimming three events inside an hour.

Shayna Jack, Cate Campbell, Emily McKeon, Bronte Campbell salute the crowd after winning gold. Picture: AAP Image/Dave Hunt

The huge Gold Coast crowd went bananas when Campbell touched for a win and a world record.

Campbell, who struggled with the pressure of expectation in Rio, said the focus had been on enjoying the home support.

“​It was beyond my wildest dreams​,” Cate Campbell said post-race.

“My coach said ​the ​atmosphere out there is electric, ​​go out, soak it up. I think that is what we have done.

“I think that is what all the Aussies have done, there has been so much talk about is there going to be pressure. No, we’re just feeling the love and feeling the support and that’s what happens when you feel it. World records. ​”

Cate Campbelll realises the team has broken the 4x100m world record. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

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Bronte Campbell said the Aussie team were stunned by the fact they’d​ clocked the fastest ever 4x100m relay time​.

“​I can’t believe we got that world record​,” Bronte Campbell said.

“​I thought that was going to stand for a long time. We were all just kind of a little bit gobsmacked, actually​.” ​

Having won a swim off to get a place in the team in the morning, Jack swam well leading off but handed over to Bronte Campbell in second place, behind Canada.

But the younger Campbell opened up a big lead with her first lap and from then on the gap only widened.

McKeon’s huge effort gave Cate Campbell clear water ahead, and considering she had no rival pushing her, the time posted for the final 100m was all the more ​astonishing.

Originally published as Cate Campbell swims fastest ever relay split to lead women’s 4x100m freestyle team to gold