Olympic swimming trials: Campbell sisters Cate and Bronte book Rio spots with one-two finish in 100m freestyle

THE world’s fastest swimming siblings, Cate and Bronte Campbell, are off to Rio after they finished one-two in the 100m freestyle at the Olympic trials.

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 12: (L-R) Cate Campbell of Australia celebrates with Bronte Campbell of Australia after the Women's 100 metre Freestyle during day six of the 2016 Australian Swimming Championships at the South Australian Aquatic & Leisure Centre on April 12, 2016 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images)

MONDAY night the theme was Top Gun. Tuesday night it was Sister Act, with the world’s fastest swimming siblings, Cate and Bronte Campbell, finishing one-two in the women’s 100m freestyle at the Olympic trials in Adelaide and booking themselves adjoining seats to Rio.

Both coming off disrupted preparations due to injury, it was older sister Cate, 23, who hit the wall first, her time of 52.38 just .20 of a second ahead of 21 year-old world champion Bronte, with Emma McKeon another .20 of a second back in third and fourth placed Brittany Elmslie also swimming an Olympic qualifying time.

Cate and Bronte Campbell will be hard to beat in Rio.

The result is a huge boost for Australia’s chances of going back to back in the women’s 100m relay in Rio, but just importantly for the sisters was the further realisation of a dream that began in their Brisbane home 16 years ago.

“I remember watching Grant Hackett win the 1500m at the Sydney Olympics and saying, ‘I’m going to do that’” Bronte said.

“I said to Cate, ‘let’s swim together at the Olympics’ and she was like, ‘OK, let’s do it’.”

Cate has now qualified for her third Games, Bronte her second, but Rio will be the first time they have both made the 100m freestyle – an event in which they have both won world championships - and the prospect of swimming in a gold medal relay team together makes it even more memorable.

“To have made this event with Bronte is so special and particularly the relay,” Cate said.

“That was always our dream, to compete in a relay at the Olympics. It’s the only way we can swim with each other and not against each other and that will be really great.”

Given the way she has come back from a shoulder injury there is also the possibility that Cate will finally break the world record in Rio. Pushed by Bronte and Emma McKeon over the distance on Tuesday night, she was in front of the red line on the giant screen until the last few strokes.

Cate Campbell heads to Rio in superb form.

“I’m always in front of that red line,” she said.

“I’m always in front of it until the last 15 metres that is.

“It’s something I think about. I’ve been thinking about it the last three years. Every time it catches me, but tonight was all about touching the wall in a one-two position and I’m pleased I did that.

“I feel like I’m back. That’s as close to my personal best that I’ve been for three years. It’s very encouraging. I’m really looking forward to getting some good work done between now and Rio.”

Originally published as Olympic swimming trials: Campbell sisters Cate and Bronte book Rio spots with one-two finish in 100m freestyle