Analysis: Cate Campbell’s dream of Olympic gold over before it began

CATE Campbell’s gold medal disappeared before the starter’s gun even fired. But why?

Australia's Cate Campbell leaves the pool after the final.

CATE Campbell’s gold medal disappeared before the starter’s gun even fired.

It was gone the moment she sat down in the marshalling room to make her final preparations for the race. Mentally she was shot. Her head was all over the place.

As soon as coach Simon Cusack saw her walk into the arena he knew then the gold medal was gone.

“When I saw her walk out. I’ve been watching her since she was nine years old and I could tell she was feeling the moment,” Cusack said.

“Some athletes are better at handling that big moment and others aren’t and unfortunately for Cate she didn’t handle the moment tonight.

“I could see her from the pictures in the marshalling room a very nervous athlete who would not be relaxed and would not have the relaxation it takes to execute a good 100m freestyle.

“I’d have to go back a fair way to see her that nervous.”

The long wait between “take your marks” and “bang” caught her by surprise and she baulked on the blocks, held her body taut so as to not fall in the pool, and by then the pack was gone.

Campbell is not known for being quick off the blocks, but a 0.80s reaction time is diabolical even by her standards.

It wasn’t a false start, but her race was as good as over.

Cate Campbell after finishing sixth. Picture: Brett Costello

Her world record five weeks ago was built upon a relaxed speed in the first 25m but Campbell was pushing it to the limit to make up for lost time.

Her mind panicked, her arms flexed, Cate was trying to correct her mistake but only made things worse.

She turned under world record pace, out in an unworldly 24.77s, and would pay dearly for the extra exertion all the way home.

Cusack had spent eight years coaching automaticity — letting the body do the work so the mind can shut down.

But in the Olympics the senses are amplified, the pressure is suffocating and only the strongest survive. It’s not about best times, it’s about the race. And Cate blew hers. She came home in a painful 28.47s, touching the wall sixth in a time of 53.24s and more than one second slower than her world record.

“We say if they’re nothing without the gold medal they’re nothing with it and we have to now accept that. No one has died here today and tomorrow she has a 50m freestyle,” Cusack said.

“She’s obviously upset how she executed the race but after a moment of feeling sorry for herself she will have to close that door and move on to tomorrow.”

Bronte on the other hand delivered a peak performance.

She was out in good speed, 25.04s, nothing she couldn’t handle and certainly nothing to indicate she was about to slow down.

Bronte was always within reach of the podium but the acceleration that delivered her triple world titles gold in Kazan last year was nowhere to be found. She came home in 28.00s to hit the wall fourth in 53.04s and just 0.05s off a bronze medal.

A series of shoulder and hip injuries this year had left Bronte with not enough time to acquire the same fitness she had last year. She’d never say that though, these sisters don’t make excuses, but the coach confirmed that to be the case.

“I’m really happy with Bronte’s performance. She got out there and had a shot and left it all in the pool,” he said.

“We just didn’t quite have long enough to end up on the dais. We’re with the best in the world here and she came damn close to getting herself a medal, she gave it a shot and should be proud of that.”

Australia's Cate Campbell, left, and Australia's Bronte Campbell.

For the past three years the sisters had won every title before them. They appeared impervious to pressure.

They’re the friendliest media talent in Australia, perhaps to a fault, but that’s just their generous spirit shining through.

For so long they’ve been joined at the hip. They live together, train together and race together. Now they share Olympic disappointment together.

They gave their all on the day, but sometimes nice gals do just finish fourth and sixth.

Originally published as Analysis: Cate Campbell’s dream of Olympic gold over before it began