Cate Campbell decides to quit social media during the Rio Olympics

CATE Campbell is the latest of our swimming stars to stop using social media during the Olympics, telling her followers that she will be “taking a break”.

Cate Campbell has decided to give up social media during the Olympics. Pics Adam Head

CATE Campbell is the latest of our swimming stars to stop using social media during the Olympics, telling her followers that she will be “taking a break”.

Campbell joins her teammates Emily Seebohm and James Magnussen to have given up their social media accounts for the duration of the Rio Games.

On her Instagram account Campbell told her followers: “Had a cracking time in Auburn...next stop Rio!! Just a little side note, I’ll be taking a break from social media from now until I’ve finished competing, but your support is appreciated none the less.”

The Australian Olympic Committee has not banned sessions but have had numerous information sessions with their athletes warning of its downfalls.

Backstroker Seebohm believed she had let Australia down after reading too many messages of adulation on Twitter prior to her final at the London Olympics and believed it cost her a gold medal.

“I’ve given my (social media) accounts to a friend of mine who’s going to run them while I’m competing so I don’t have to worry about that at all,’’ she said.

Cate Campbell has decided to give up social media during the Olympics. Picture: Adam Head

“I’ve given her my accounts and she will probably just take over and I’ll just send her some stuff, like photos or whatever. And she will update it with race stuff.

Australian chef de mission has said previously that the Australians did not understand the dangers or the distraction of social media in London.

Originally published as Cate Campbell decides to quit social media during the Rio Olympics