Cate Campbell smashed the Olympic record for the second time on the same day as she set up a mouth-watering showdown with sister Bronte in the women’s 100 metres freestyle final.
SWIMMING: Cate Campbell smashed the Olympic record for the second time on the same day as she set up a mouth-watering showdown with sister Bronte in the women’s 100 metres freestyle final.
The 24-year-old Australian star broke the Olympic record in the heats earlier today with a time of 52.78 seconds, then promptly lowered her own mark to 52.71 seconds in winning the second semi-final in the Rio Olympic pool tonight.
In the first semi-final, her 22-year-old sister Bronte turned first at the halfway mark then cruised home second to qualify for the final in a time of 53.29 seconds.
The Campbell sisters, who combined to win gold together in Australia’s 100m freestyle relay triumph, will now face off against each other in the individual decider.
It will pit world record holder Cate against world champion Bronte in what promises to be one of the great duels of the 2016 Games.
Cate touched home first in her semi a fingernail ahead of Canadian Penny Oleksiak (52.72) and Swede Sarah Sjostrom (53.16) to qualify fastest for the decider.
Bronte came second in her heat behind American Simone Manuel (53.11) to qualify fifth fastest for the final.
Doug Conway
olympics.com.au