Campbell girls on song at swim titles

Cate Campbell has qualified fastest for the national 50m freestyle final after again pipping her sister Bronte.

Cate Campbell

World champion Cate Campbell has claimed her third straight 100m freestyle national crown in Sydney. (AAP)

The official theme the Campbell sisters have adopted for the national swimming titles in Sydney is John Legend's "Glory".

But the ballad's title already appears appropriate for July's world titles in Kazan, Russia based on their stirring Sydney results.

Either that or "Sisters Are Doing It For Themselves".

World 100m freestyle champion Cate Campbell clocked 24.19 seconds to qualify fastest for Friday night's 50m final ahead of Bronte (24.41).

It followed up her heroics in the 100m where Cate Campbell again pipped her sibling to claim gold in the world's fastest time of the year.

The pair have both been on song at the world titles trials - so it only seemed fitting that they maintained their tradition of adopting one for the meet.

And the Campbell girls didn't take long to settle on Legend's Oscar-winning anthem from the American civil rights film Selma.

"It is an incredibly inspirational movie and then we heard the song again at the Oscars and thought 'yep that will be ours for the trials'," Cate Campbell said.

"When we pick one, we usually stick to it - and the more inspirational the better."

The movie Selma had certainly inspired the girls but maybe "Sister Act" would be more appropriate based on their national titles' dominance.

Cate Campbell (52.69) defied a preparation disrupted by shoulder surgery to pip her spirited sister (53.04) and seal a third straight 100m title on Wednesday night.

They are expected to add to their medal collection on Friday night.

Yet Cate Campbell admitted she had been a bundle of nerves before booking her world titles flight with the 100m result.

"I find trials the most stressful competition of the year," she said.

"When I am lining up for a world championships and standing behind the block, I think 'you know it (result) doesn't really matter - nothing hangs on this'.

"At trials, your whole year hangs in the balance.

"You've got your whole year planned out up until trials and, once you have completed it and qualified for the Dolphins, then you can plan the rest.

"Time stops in April for a week or two."

The Campbells have tried to settle their nerves at the nationals by watching movies - but nothing quite as epic as Selma.

"We watched (romantic comedy) Crazy, Stupid Love last night - please don't judge us," Cate Campbell laughed.


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Source: AAP


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