Sydney hosts a galaxy of stars
FRESH from signing lucrative deals to represent London in swimming’s first global professional league starting later this year, Australia’s Olympic gold medallists are getting ready to take the plunge closer to home.
It won’t be the biggest meet they’ve ever entered but next weekend’s NSW State Open Championships at Sydney’s Olympic Park Aquatic Centre is the first step on the long road to next year’s Tokyo Olympics, so it has attracted a stellar field.
The big stars on show include Rio 100m freestyle champion Kyle Chalmers as well as Cate Campbell, Bronte Campbell and Emma McKeon.
With no Australian franchise for the inaugural season of the $7.5 million International Swimming League, all four have just finalised contracts to race for the London team, where they could earn as much as $120,000 each if they win the grand final in the innovative team event in Las Vegas.
But for now their focus is on the NSW State titles (March 15-17), where the Campbell sisters will be racing as locals for the first time since leaving Queensland and relocating to Sydney’s northern suburbs.
The two sprinters will line up against each other in the 50m and 100m and admit to having a few nerves about getting back on the blocks.
“I don’t think the butterflies ever go away,” Bronte said.
“I’m sure it’ll feel a little bit alien and I’ll be a little bit nervous but I kind of like that. It makes it a little bit more exciting and it means you’re a little bit more alive.
“It’s an important race and an important time of the year but it’s more of a benchmark to see exactly where we’re at and how much we need to do moving forward.”
Bronte took a long break after last year’s Commonwealth Games, so doesn’t expect to be at her peak next weekend but knows the chance to race again in the Sydney Olympic pool will guarantee she goes quick.
The Campbells were just young kids, still living in Malawi, when the Sydney Olympics took place in 2000, but watching it on television was their inspiration to become world champions.
“I watched Grant Hackett win the 1500m and that was the moment I wanted to swim for Australia,” Bronte said.
“It just seemed like an incredible Games to be a part of so it’s pretty spectacular.”