Along with the rest of the world, Cate Campbell’s life changed dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic, from training towards a goal and a dream every single day, to losing the ability to do so.

“We found out on Monday, March 23rd, 2020 that the Olympics weren’t going ahead, and that day is forever burned into my memory,” the five-time Olympic medallist said.

“And then of course, Australia went into that two-month lockdown, so we lost access to all training facilities. 

“For me, being in a swimming pool makes up 95% of my training and to lose that completely was very, very disorienting,” she continued.

“Besides that, I lost access to my coach, my squad all of those things that really make up being an elite athlete and keeping you motivated and healthy.”

After pushing herself to her limits, trying not to lose any fitness or strength in lockdown, and feeling dejected, Campbell decided to make the most of lockdown and slow things down.

“It wasn’t until I took my foot off the gas and accepted the situation, that I was able to enjoy things during lockdown,” she said.

“Because I wasn’t training five hours a day, I suddenly had all this energy to explore hobbies and interests that I didn’t have the time to pursue before.

“I got into photography, I started a veggie garden and I learned how to cook so having that downtime really showed me how to enjoy things outside of my sport and broaden my interests and that’s served me really well,” she continued.

In her candid chat with Olympian and journalist David Culbert, Campbell also spoke about the healthy rivalry between herself and fellow Olympic Champion swimmer – and sister – Bronte, sharing that despite their competitiveness in the pool, their relationship always comes first.

“Bronte and myself are obviously very competitive people, we wouldn't be in sport if we weren't,” she explained. 

“But we have a deep love, understanding and respect for one another and we have kind of come to the unspoken agreement and conclusion that our relationship always comes first, that we are sisters first and competitors second. 

“There's a saying ‘all's fair in love and war’, I would say, all's fair in love and war and sport. 

“I believe that I am as successful as I am, because I have had Bronte to push me every step of the way.” 

The morning of the final of the 4x100m freestyle relay in Tokyo 2020, where Australia are defending champions, will be the 20th anniversary of when Campbell first met another important person in her life, her coach, Simon Cusack.

“Simon has been my one and only swim coach, I met him when I was nine years old, on the 25th of July 2001, so there's a lot of history there. 

“If we're talking about the stable kind of point in my swimming career, that that would be Simon, he's been there through it all and he is wonderful.

“He makes you accountable to turn up to training but he makes the training environment fun as well. It's fun, but it's also professional and that's something that he's really clear about. 

“Our squad has chopped and changed over the years, but along with being professional, we also make sure to enjoy ourselves a little bit, because staring at the black line does get a little bit monotonous, especially when you've been doing it as long as I have.

As for her Tokyo dream, Campbell opens up on her goal for Tokyo, which isn’t a focus on podiums or medals, it’s about reaching ‘Nirvana,’ on the way.