Campbell’s break pays off with 100m record
CATE Campbell showed her post-Olympic sabbatical may have been the perfect tonic for her career, setting a world record in the 100m freestyle at the national shortcourse championships in Adelaide.
Campbell wasted little time showing she should still be regarded as the fastest woman in the world despite Swede Sarah Sjostrom’s stunning year by clocking 50.25sec to set a new mark in the four-lap event.
“She’s back and it’s exciting and it’s great to be swimming fast,” Campbell said.
The Adelaide titles mark Campbell’s full-time return to competition after she skipped the world championships earlier this year after succumbing to the pressure in the Rio Olympic final when gold medal favourite.
It was a bold move but one the Brisbane swimmer said had already paid off.
“Taking a year off this year has been the best thing I’ve ever done,” she said.
“I’ve come back refreshed, I’ve got a new love for the sport, a new perspective.”