Cate Campbell believes there is a good chance her 100m freestyle shortcourse world record will be snatched away by Emma McKeon on Thursday evening.
Campbell, one of Australia’s highest-profile Olympians, also revealed she is leaning towards Ian Thorpe’s view that Romanian teenager David Popovici might trump Kyle Chalmers in the men’s version of the same must-watch event.
Campbell, who has not raced competitively this year but still has ambitions of making it to the Paris Olympics in 2024, was in the stands at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre on Tuesday evening to witness McKeon spearheading Australia to victory in the women’s 4x100m freestyle relay at the World Shortcourse Championships.
McKeon, Australia’s most decorated Olympian, had almost a second to make up on American rival Erika Brown when she dived into the water with four laps and 100 metres to go. She roared home to clock a remarkable final 100m split of 49.96 seconds, sealing Australia’s first world record of the meeting as Brown faded away with a 51.8s last leg.
Campbell, the shortcourse 100m freestyle world record holder, has a suspicion there could be another slice of history on Thursday night, with her time of 50.25s in Adelaide in 2017 set to be challenged by McKeon, who has a personal best of 50.58s.
Emma McKeon is congratulated by Cate Campbell after winning a gold medal in the 100m freestyle final at the Tokyo Olympics.Credit:Clive Rose
“I think that we might see another Australian name take that world record,” Campbell told the Herald and The Age. “After watching the form Emma was in, she’s obviously absolutely flying. If I’m going to hand over the baton, at least it’s to another Australian. I’ll be a little sad to see that go. If it does, it’ll be extra motivation to try and get it back before Paris.
“I was surprised she went that fast. As soon as she finished I was like, ‘What was that split? I need to know’. We witnessed something spectacular. She is just showing she can back up after becoming our most decorated Olympian. She is still hungry and has more in the tank. Phenomenal.
“She was taking glances over at the Americans and I think that she knew she was in with a really good shot.”
The race of the week gets under way on Thursday evening when Chalmers squares off against David Popovici in the men’s 100m freestyle.
Chalmers is the shortcourse world record holder, while Popovici, the 18-year-old Romanian sensation, broke the longcourse mark earlier this year that had been held since 2009 by held by Brazil’s Cesar Cielo.
Thorpe said earlier this week he thought Popovici was just ahead of Chalmers when asked who was the favourite to take out the race.
Popovici and Chalmers will go head-to-head on Thursday evening.Credit:Getty
Campbell, who won bronze in the 100m freestyle at the Tokyo Olympics, also thought the race would be extremely tight.
“My heart wants to say Kyle but my head says Popovici,” Campbell said. “We love these rivalries. It’s a huge showdown.
“I think Kyle is really facing the unknown because David hasn’t really raced a lot of shortcourse. We don’t actually really know what Kyle is up against. It can work in Kyle’s favour. He has all the experience. He’s obviously the world record holder and he’s done a lot of shortcourse racing in the past couple of years. He also had the fastest relay split in the men’s freestyle relay [44.98s], so he’s in good form. We want to see it.”
McKeon’s blistering swim filled Campbell’s heart with joy, given she has been an integral member of Australia’s all-conquering female 4x100m freestyle relay team for over a decade.
Aussie swimming great Cate Campbell.Credit:Getty
It has motivated her to rediscover her own top form sooner than later.
“This competition is the first competition since Tokyo that I really wish I was down on pool deck racing,” Campbell said. “I was very happy to sit out the [longcourse] World Championships and the Commonwealth Games.
“I’m nowhere near fit enough to be racing. I definitely feel the hunger. [The relay win] was an incredible moment but a little part of me wishes I’d been a part of that moment. It’s stoked the fire and got me motivated.
“I got straight up this morning and bashed out a training session by myself. I can’t give an answer whether I will be competing at World Championships [in Japan next year]. I only want to do this comeback once. I don’t want to come back and get injured. The goal is Paris 2024.”
