Her record-breaking finish inspired a shock Pan Pacs mixed medley relay gold for Australia in Tokyo.
But Cate Campbell believes her starts may be the key to a 100m freestyle win on Friday that would exorcise her Rio Olympic demons.
Former world champion Campbell inspired Australia's lone gold on the opening night of the four-day Pan Pacs, clocking a stunning 50.93 seconds in the freestyle anchor leg - the fastest women's split in history.
In another confidence boost, Campbell in the final leg blew away American world champion Simone Manuel, the woman who dethroned her to claim Rio 100m gold.
It ensured Australia claimed gold in three minutes, 38.91 seconds - just 0.35 of a second shy of the world record.
Japan were second in the mixed medley - one of three events to be added to the Olympic program in Tokyo 2020 - while an American team boasting two world champions and a world record holder was a surprise third.
Campbell is showing ominous signs that she is back after taking 2017 off to deal with her shock sixth placing in Rio.
No one doubts her finishing but Campbell believes her starts may be the difference in Friday's 100m final that is again expected to feature Manuel with Aussies Shayna Jack and Emma McKeon also in the mix.
Campbell said she had focused on her reaction time off the blocks ahead of the Pan Pacs, her biggest meet since her Rio heartache.
"As a sprinter I am notoriously slow off the blocks. I've got a couple of tenths of a second if I can get off the blocks a bit quicker," she said.
"There is just a lot more of me to get off the blocks than other people, but in saying that Usain Bolt never had the fastest start.
"If you want to swim faster it means you have to train a lot harder, where if I work on skills like starts ... that's money for jam really (to improve times)."
Campbell said she was in a good headspace before what looms as Rio redemption on Friday.
"I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with the 100m don't I?" Campbell laughed.
"I can swim incredibly well and then it can also give me incredible heartache. For me it is about relaxing into it."
Defending champion Campbell is the only Australian woman to claim the blue riband event in the Pan Pacs' 33-year history.
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