It is somewhat ironic that Cate Campbell feels more comfortable talking about the Paralympics than the Olympics at the moment.
The 31-year-old certainly has good reason to, after being unveiled as part of Channel Nine’s commentary line-up for the Paralympics, which start in Paris in 100 days.
“We have some incredible legends of the sport competing over there who we want to turn into household names,” Campbell said.
Two years ago, Campbell ventured into the daunting world of live television by conducting poolside interviews for Channel Seven at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. At that stage, her swimming career was at a crossroads.
After competing at her fourth Olympic Games in Tokyo, Campbell walked away from the sport, unsure if she had the mental and physical energy to return.
She is now one good swim away from becoming the first Australian swimmer to make it to five Olympics.
Cate Campbell has been unveiled as a commentator for Channel Nine at this year’s Paralympics.Credit: Nine
The romance of a record-breaking Olympic campaign is not something Campbell is allowing herself to think too much about.
“The more I invest in that, if it doesn’t work out – and there’s always a possibility that it won’t – the more it’ll crush me,” Campbell said.
“What I need to do right now doesn’t involve thinking about going to the closing ceremony of my fifth Olympic Games and what that would feel like.
“The competition is incredible. It’s going to be incredibly tight to qualify. There are no guarantees. It’s not like they’re saving a spot for me on the team. I’m going to have to fight tooth and nail for that.”
Campbell will swim in the 50m and 100m freestyle events at Australia’s trials next month, which also features Paralympic athletes hoping to qualify for Paris.
Cate Campbell ahead of the Tokyo Olympics.Credit: Getty
Campbell says the integration of athletes with a disability has changed immensely in the 16 years she has been on the Australian team.
“My brother has cerebral palsy, so I’ve grown up in the disability community,” Campbell said. “I have seen first-hand the challenges that community faces, but also know what a wonderful, inspiring and uplifting place it is. That’s one of the reasons that I’m so excited to be involved in the Paralympics is we get to expose more people to that community. We get to celebrate people who are often marginalised, who are often silenced.
“It’s very normal to turn up to a swim competition and for me to know a bunch of the para athletes who are there and that’s happening right from when kids are entering the sport, not just at the elite level.
Some of Australia’s Paralympians at the team’s uniform launch in Sydney on Friday. Credit: Nikki Short
“The Paralympic movement has grown year-on-year. I can barely remember hearing about it back in 2008. It’s a chance for us to celebrate our athletes, but also to be inspired by their phenomenal stories because all of them have had to overcome so much just to get to the starting line of that competition, so much more than the average person would be able to understand.”
Channel Nine has announced a large stable of commentators for the Paralympics, including Ellie Cole, Kurt Fearnley, Dylan Alcott, Blake Cochrane and Annabelle Williams. Former Australian BMX rider Sam Willoughby, who suffered a career-ending injury in 2016, will also join Campbell and Jess Fox in commentary.
The Paralympics run from August 28 to September 8.
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