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Another record falls to Campbell

Former world 100m champion Cate Campbell admits she can't choose a favourite event after setting an Australian record in the 50m freestyle win at Rio trials.

Another day, another record for Cate Campbell.

No wonder Campbell can't pick a favourite event after her all conquering form at the Rio Olympic swimming trials in Adelaide.

Campbell, 23, capped her remarkable Rio selection campaign by claiming 50m freestyle gold in an Australian record 23.84 seconds on Thursday night.

It shattered her own national mark set in the semi-finals on Wednesday night.

And it was 0.11 shy of the world record mark set by German Britta Steffen (23.73) in the 2009 supersuit era.

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She had already earned selection for her third Games by claiming the 100m freestyle title in 52.38 - her fastest time since claiming the 2013 world title.

That two lap effort was also just 0.31 short of Steffen's 100m world mark.

Campbell - once considered a 100m specialist - was ecstatic, but suddenly conflicted.

Asked what was now her favourite event ahead of the Rio Games, she said: "Choosing between the 50m and 100m is like choosing between your children.

"I have favourites on different days.

"I will concentrate on all of them.

"I am not going to think it's 100m or nothing."

Campbell was hoping to make up for lost time at the Rio trials.

After undergoing shoulder surgery she had been relegated to 100m bronze and fourth in the 50m at 2015 world titles.

Now Campbell reckoned she was `back'.

"To still be doing PBs at my age is very encouraging, I couldn't be more thrilled," she said.

"It's been a rocky road in the past with consistency.

"And swimming a 50m is like playing the pokies, you push a button and you never know what is going come up, it may be a mixed bag."

Campbell had shown blistering speed at the trials but was not about to make any bold predictions ahead of Rio.

"It's not about focussing on the world records, if they fall they fall," she said.


2 min read

Published

Source: AAP



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