Performance of the Week: Cate Campbell’s 100 Freestyle World Record

Photo Courtesy: Joao Marc Bosch

While the U.S. was busy selecting who was going to represent the red, white, and blue at the Rio Olympics this summer, many of those already named on the Australian Olympic Team were competing at the Australian Grand Prix in Brisbane. While twelve different meet records fell over the course of the two day meet, the most head-turning swim came from Cate Campbell, who earned the Performance of the Week by breaking the world record in the 100 freestyle.

Going out in 24.87 to her feet, Campbell touched the wall at 52.06 to break the world record by .01. That record had been held by German sprinter and Olympic gold medalist Britta Steffen since 2009, a mark she set at the World Championships that summer in Rome. Campbell already led the world rankings in the 100 this season, having posted a 52.38 back in April at the Aussie Olympic Trials that was right off of her best time. Already the Olympic gold medal favorite in the 100, this world record only solidifies her position as the favorite and raises the question of whether or not the 24-year old will be the first woman under 52.00 in the 100 freestyle.

This swim also has huge implications for the relays in Rio. With three women already under 53 at their Olympic Trials and Campbell now the world record holder in the 100, the Aussies seem to continue to distance themselves from the rest of the world in the 4 x 100 free relay. Similarly in the 4 x 100 medley, the Aussie women have the best front and back end in the world between Emily Seebohm and Cate Campbell. While the breaststroke and butterfly legs aren’t as strong for the Aussies, just getting solid swims from those two legs may be enough to get to the top of the podium. As always we will have to wait until race time to find out, but this summer is shaping up to be historic!

Congratulations Cate Campbell on earning Swimming World’s Performance of the Week!

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Steve Friederang

7 years ago

Amazing.

Sherif Mohamed Fathy

7 years ago

Msh bethazarr ???Hodzii ElRidi

Hodzii ElRidi

7 years ago

Sherif Ramses Ebbo Sherif Mohamed Fathy

John Lowe

7 years ago

nice to see those 2008/9 wetsuit records going down