Olympic Games: Freestyle star Cate Campbell relieved after receiving first of two COVID-19 vaccine needles

Swimming star Cate Campbell can concentrate on adding to her Olympic Games medal collection after receiving the first of her two COVID-19 vaccine injections.

A relieved Cate Campbell can finally focus on winning an Olympic Games gold medal in Tokyo after receiving a COVID-19 vaccination in Brisbane on Monday.

Australia’s freestyle sprint queen admitted she panicked last week when she realised time was running out to get the first of two Pfizer vaccine jabs.

“When I saw the announcement came out, I was like `I need to get the vaccine in about a week’ and it was almost a week to the day since I had that thought and here I am (after) my first vaccination,” she said.

“I’m really glad that we can get it far enough away from the Olympics so that if there are any adverse side effects, we’ll be well and truly over them by the time it comes around to Olympic trials (next month).

“We are going into a pretty unknown situation over in Tokyo, so to have this little band-aid is a huge weight off everyone’s shoulders.”

While the vaccine isn’t compulsory for Australia’s Olympic and Paralympic contingent – set to total more than 2000 including officials – Campbell was confident most, if not all, would have the jabs.

The Campbell sisters Bronte (left) and Cate recover after getting their COVID-19 vaccine injections. Picture: Patrick HAMILTON / AFP

“As far as I know everyone is putting up their had and saying ‘yes please and thank you’,” she said.

“The majority of competitors from first world countries will have had the vaccine as well, so we definitely want to even the playing fields as much we can with Brits and the Americans.

“No-one can guarantee anything. We’ve learnt that so much in the past year and a half, that this virus can change and mutate, and it’s up to us to play catch-up, by getting the vaccine, we’re getting on the front foot, which is really great.”

Campbell – who returned to Queensland in December with coach Simon Cusack after two years in NSW – said Australian athletes were fortunate to be able to prepare normally for the Olympics.

“The pandemic has impacted everyone, let’s not understate that but we are incredibly privileged in Australia to exist in a society where COVID doesn’t impact us on a daily basis,” she said.

“We still have access to all our training facilities, and everyone who we need to see. That’s been really helpful in preparing for these games.

“The rest of the world, the COVID situation that they’re dealing with, is much more dire than what we’re facing in Australia.”

As she prepares for her fourth Olympics, 28-year Campbell said she was better prepared than she was for the 2016 Rio Games.

“I have changed some mindsets going in, I’ve shaken up my training program, I’ve tried to keep a more balanced lifestyle, and I’m really looking forward to going in,” said Campbell, whose two Olympic gold medals have come in 4x100m freestyle relay events in Rio and nine years ago in London.