Australian Olympic icon Cate Campbell has decided to hang up her goggles at the age of 32.
The world record holder revealed her decision on Instagram, stating, “After over 20 years, over 35,00km, over 19,000,000 stokes, 4 Olympics, 8 Olympic medals, 7 World Records and countless memories it’s time to officially say goodbye to the dream I have had since I was 9 years old. As of today, I am officially retired from elite sport.
“I have had some time over the past week to reflect on my career, and while there are many conflicting emotions, especially because it did not end exactly how I had hoped, I am still able to look back without regret. I gave the pursuit of a 5th Olympics everything I had, and therefore, even in failure, there is a small, indelible kernel of pride.
“One of the biggest myths is that swimming is an individual sport. While it was only me under the bright lights behind the starting blocks, there was a small army of people who got me to that place. So, I would like to thank my extended team over the years. My family, my friends, my partner, my competitors, my Australian Dolphins teammates, my management team, my physios, my coaches, Swimming Australia, the Queensland Academy of Sport, the Australian Olympic Committee, the New South Whales Institute of Sport, my sponsors, the swimming officials and referees, the basket kids, the events teams and every single swimming fan who has supported me over the years.
“It’s been a long and wild ride and I wouldn’t change it for the world.
“I can’t wait to cheer on the Australian Dolphins and the rest of the Australian Olympic Team in Paris. I am entering my cheerleading era.”
Campbell’s final competition was the 2024 Australian Olympic Trials where she raced in the women’s 100m and 50m freestyle events.
In the 100m, the athlete nicknamed ‘C1‘ placed 9th out of the heats, registering a time of 54.27, just .01 shy of snagging 8th place. As for the 50m, the Chandler swimmer made it to the domestic final but placed 7th in 24.56.
Campbell’s top times of the season remain at 53.23 from last December’s Queensland Championships and 24.10 from October’s World Cup in Berlin. Had she clocked the 24.10 at Trials Campbell would have reaped 2nd place behind winner Shayna Jack (23.99).
Famous sister Bronte Campbell did make the squad as a member of the 4x100m free relay after finishing 4th. She gave an emotional post-race interview, celebrating Cate’s achievements.
Career-wise, C1 closes her competitive swimming chapter with 4 golds, 1 silver and 3 bronze medals over the course of 4 Olympic Games. Her debut came at the 2008 edition in Beijing where, at just 15 years of age, C1 claimed 50m free bronze and bronze in the women’s 4x100m free relay.
At the last Games in Tokyo, where she served as her nation’s co-flag bearer, the Aussie captured bronze in the 100m free and golds in both women’s 4x100m free and 4x100m medley relays.
Over the course of her career she was a part of 7 world records, including the 100m free where her time of 52.06 in 2016 erased the supersuited mark of 52.07 Germany’s Britta Steffen established in 2009.
Campbell is currently the owner of the SCM 100m free world record of 50.25 from 2017.
She continues to be in the news surrounding the back-and-forth banter between Australia and the United States.
From training camp in Canet, in the south of France, Australian head coach Rohan Taylor said of Campbell: “Her service and contribution to swimming is just incredible – not just for what she achieved in the pool but also outside of it.
“She is a genuine leader, part of the Dolphins’ leadership group, was always team first … and swam with heart. Her anchor of the medley relay in Tokyo – her skills on the changeover – was class and grit.
“We all saw how much she meant to the team and to her peers by that incredible send off in the pool at the Selection Trials – that was reflection of the high regard we all hold Cate in.
“We wish Cate all the best and know that whatever she chooses to do next, she will excel in.”
Don’t let the door hit you on the way out
Amazing career by Cate Campbell! Top 5 Aussie sprinter all-time! While she may have underperformed at the Olympics in individual events, she would always show out for her country on relays, boasting the fastest 100 Free splits in history!
As an American, congrats on a phenomenal career and good luck in the next phase of life to a true legend!
👀🍿
Congratulations to Cate an a great swimming career. Best wishes in your future endeavors.
wow, this comment section is awful as expected. You’ve got the mean-spirited Americans who are incapable of saying anything nice, and the Australians who are overly sensitive to anything that’s not over the top flattery. (Actually, maybe this is a normal comments section lol). I’ve given credit to Cate for her swimming legacy, but her legacy for stirring up the USA/AUS rivalry might also be pretty big. I hope she sticks around swimming in some capacity, she’s good for the sport. Her and Phelps have driven a lot of eyes to swimming over the last week.
Well, I’ll be a nice-spirited American…Cate really elevated the world in terms of her swim career in sprint freestyle. She was a stalwart over several olympics and yes, a thorn in the side of many American female swimmers over the years…while some Americans can say they bested her, few actually did, and even fewer around the world.
As for some recent comments vs the timing of her retirement, I choose to let that go and celebrate the body of work over some comment made one time about that cowbell. Anybody who suggests otherwise is short sighted and not celebrating the sport of swimming and those who strive to reach its pinnacle….something Cate DID achieve.
Yes, she’s had a remarkable career. Real relay difference maker. It’s possible to lob back some friendly trash talk towards her and and appreciate the impact she’s had on Australian swimming
I don’t think getting upset about constant and repeated vicious personal attacks against an individual swimmer is being “overly sensitive”
you were upset at Americans (and often) long before this comment section
What a brilliant career and god how we laughed at the Americans when they changed the medal tally to make them look on top. Initially Cates comments may have given some fire in the bellies of the American team but I’d say now the relentless cyber bullying directed towards Cate will be lighting a fire in the Australians’ bellies (or else they have turned off social media and are just focusing on their prep). But seriously, I just don’t get why such a large number of Americans are so deeply offended by her comments. Anyway back to some more comedy *turns on Trump v Biden debate*
The Americans think they’re world champions at trash-talking, so when an Australian indulges in a little humorous sledging and banter, they get all upset.
C1’s career has been amazing, she has kept turning up and doing the work in the pool, and swimming fast. We’ll miss her!
How good are the US media at manufacturing enemies and manipulating their populace.
They’ve had a lot of practice.
extremely good
Australian media literally started it by calling the US “Sore, pathetic losers”
Then he called Phelps a”tosser” a few days ago.
But to be fair, the anchor is the son of a Serbian immigrant. Naturally, these Serbians don’t like the US.
This is a new account that has never posted on SwimSwam before. I wondered how long it would take for you to come out with the blatant overt racism. It was less than a day lol
Serbian is a race? You have no problem with him, a TV anchor, calling the US a “pathetic sore loser”, Phelps is a “tosser” on national TV, but you have a problem with me pointing out that the Serbians don’t like the Americans?
Is that it?
Is this totally normal in Australia?
Now, let’s circle back to the original point, how is this SwimSwam and the “US media” fault but the Australian “media” and swimmer are such angels?
Se, we dont take the tv host stefanovic seriously, because he is a tosser, and he doesnt talk, he dribbles absolute ***, but some people, mostly Americans, seem to be taking it seriously. Thats not our problem
Also just leaving this here so we can finally put it to rest: https://people.com/michael-phelps-says-cate-campbell-missing-2024-olympics-shows-how-cutthroat-trials-are-8670614
Interesting to see if the people who clutched their pearls about Cate wanting to “punch” someone will be equally upset that Phelps said he wanted to “beat the S out of” his competitors
But she was a meanie about the national anthem 🥹🥹🇺🇸🦅🇺🇸🦅😭😭
She was just a sore loser.
Phelps said he wanted to “beat the S out of” IN THE POOL. You can’t see the difference or you pretend to? I can’t decide.