On a morning of incredible achievement, Cate Campbell has notched up yet another milestone, becoming just the third Australian Opening Ceremony Flag Bearer to claim gold at a Summer Games.
Campbell joins equestrian’s Andrew Hoy (Atlanta 1996), rower Bobby Pearce (Amsterdam 1928) in the exclusive club, following her anchor leg swim in the world record breaking 4 x 100 freestyle relay team in Tokyo. And Torah Bright (Vancouver 2010) is Australia’s sole winter Olympian to achieve this.
The win in the relay, alongside sister Bronte, Olympic debutant Meg Harris and Emma McKeon, also saw 29-year-old Campbell become just the fourth Australian to win a gold medal in the same event at three Olympic Games. Already in the ‘threepeat’ club is Dawn Fraser (100m freestyle 1956-1964), Andrew Hoy (Eventing team event 1992-2000) and Rechelle Hawkes (hockey 1988, 1996, 2000).
The time of 3:29.69 was the fourth consecutive time the Australian team has broken the world record, starting at the 2014 Commonwealth Games (Glasgow), then the 2016 Olympics (Rio), and 2018 Commonwealth Games (Gold Coast).
A delighted Campbell spoke of the special bond among the swim team, and particularly her relay teammates.
"Depth and high standards. We've all really had to step up year in and year out, but also supporting each other,” she said.
“This is the third Olympics in a row that Australia has won this event and that in itself really needs to be celebrated. To do that….is incredible.”
And Campbell herself has been the constant presence since 2012, having been the only member of that team each time they’ve topped the podium.
In addition to the third consecutive 4x100m freestyle relay gold win, the other milestones Campbell recorded with this victory include:
- It is the fifth occasion Australia have won this event, first achieved in Melbourne, in 1956
- Becomes just the fourth swimmer in history to win the same event at three Olympic Games
- Campbell won bronze as part of the 4 x 100 relay team in Beijing (2008), the Tokyo 2020 gold means she joins Leisel Jones as the only Australian to win 4 successive medals in the same event, with Jones part of the 4 x 100 medley relay team between 2000 and 2012.
- Becomes the oldest Australian Olympic swimming champion
Cate Campbell & Simon Cusack: 20 years strong and taking on #TokyoTogether
The 25th of July 2021 also marks 20 years since Campbell met her longtime coach, Simon Cusack. Cusack has guided Cate to multiple Olympic, World Championship and Commonwealth Games titles, with multiple world records along the way.
The pair started working together in 2001, when Cate first began competitive swimming at the Indooroopilly Swimming Club. Within six years of training under Cusack, Cate at just 16 qualified for her first Olympic Games.
Under Cusack’s tutelage, Cate claimed an individual (50m freestyle) and relay (4x100m freestyle) bronze at Beijing 2008 and the partnership has since gone from strength to strength. At her second Olympic Games at London 2012, Cate won her first Olympic gold medal in the 4x100m relay. Four years later in Rio, she claimed a gold and silver medal in the 4x100m freestyle relay and 4x100m medley respectively.
Highly regarded as one of Australia’s leading swimming coaches, Cusack continues to play an integral role in Cate’s career. He is also coach to Bronte and Paralympic champion Ellie Cole.
Damian Kelly and Taylah O’Neill
