Campbell rules out 200m at 2018 Games

Former world champion Cate Campbell has ruled out adding the 200m freestyle event to her Gold Coast Commonwealth Games program despite her NSW titles success.

A file image of Australian swimmer Cate Campbell

Despite NSW titles success, Cate Campbell (file) won't swim the 200m freestyle at the Comm Games. (AAP)

Don't expect Cate Campbell to add the 200m freestyle to her Gold Coast Commonwealth Games program despite the former world record holder's stunning NSW championship success.

In fact don't expect Campbell to even contemplate the four lap event any time soon.

Talked into contesting the event by coach Simon Cusack, the former 100m world champion raced to the brink of exhaustion to hold out a star studded field and claim 200m victory in a personal best on the final night of the NSW swimming titles on Sunday.

Back from a 2017 sabbatical following her Rio disappointment, Campbell clocked 1min:58.86 seconds to claim the 200m final by just 0.09s.

The 25-year-old Campbell savoured the rare 200m win - then quietly hoped she would never do the event again.

"Simon said that I would have a healthy appreciation for the 100m after doing the 200m," she said.

"I was hoping if I do enough bad ones he would stop me doing them but the competitive edge in me just couldn't let me bomb out.

"I won't be doing one again in a hurry, they hurt a lot."

Campbell said only a national emergency would make her contemplate making herself available for Australia's 4x200m freestyle relay team at April's Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

"If my country needs me, if it's in dire straits, then I will come to its aid," she laughed.

"If I'm called upon, then I will step up but I'm really hoping that the young guys step up in that 200m and they can leave the old dogs to do the 100m."

Campbell is expected to add one event at the Commonwealth Games trials on the Gold Coast from February 28 after her NSW titles success - the 50m butterfly.

Campbell upstaged the likes of compatriot Emma McKeon to claim the 50m butterfly win in Sydney, pushing her to second fastest on Australia's all-time list for the event behind ex-world champion Marieke Guehrer.

She also claimed the 50m-100m freestyle double in Sydney.


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Source: AAP



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