Australian sprint freestyler Bronte Campbell, who has not competed since the 2024 Paris Olympics, may have her eyes set on Los Angeles 2028.
Speaking on the first episode of her new podcast “Campbells & Co.” alongside sister and recently-retired Australian sprint freestyler Cate, the 31-year-old was candid about her current status. “I haven’t retired,” she made clear, with Cate adding that Bronte “has some plans to get back in the pool, which is so exciting, because LA looks insane.”
While Campbell never officially announced her retirement, some assumed she had hung up her goggles due to both her extended absence from competition and comments she made prior to the 2024 Australian Trials, when she told the Sydney Morning Herald that Los Angeles was not on her radar.
“I genuinely don’t see myself [swimming] four years from now gearing up for Los Angeles, but I have no idea what the future holds,” she said. She had also described Paris as “one last push,” adding that she was “very, very happy” with how her career had gone.
Those comments, however, came as Campbell was in the midst of a prolonged battle with injuries. Following the 2020 Summer Olympics, she dealt with chronic pain affecting her shoulders, neck, hip, and elbows, ultimately spending around 18 months out of the pool. In the lead-up to the 2024 Australian Trials, she also suffered a 4 cm calf tear that disrupted her preparation, yet still managed to post her first sub-53 swim in the 100 free (52.95) since 2019 to finish fourth.
It’s unclear what Campbell’s training setup will look like going forward, though in the lead-up to Paris she worked with Shannon Rollason, known for coaching Jodie Henry, Alice Mills, and Rikke Moller Pedersen, after spending her entire professional career training under Simon Cusack.
Campbell has been a Dolphins mainstay since making the London 2012 Olympic team. She owns four Olympic relay medals, three of which are gold, in addition to 11 World Championship medals, five of them gold. She is best known for sweeping the sprint freestyle events at the 2015 World Championships, a pair of upset wins over both her sister and Swedish superstar Sarah Sjostrom.
Campbell’s International Resume (Olympic & World Championships)
- Olympic Games
- 2012 London
- 10th – 50m freestyle
- 2016 Rio de Janeiro
- GOLD – 4x100m freestyle relay
- 4th – 100m freestyle
- 7th – 50m freestyle
- 2020 Tokyo
- GOLD – 4x100m freestyle relay
- BRONZE – mixed 4x100m medley relay
- 2024 Paris
- GOLD – 4x100m freestyle relay
- 2012 London
- World Championships
- 2013 Barcelona
- SILVER – 4x100m freestyle relay
- 5th – 50m freestyle
- 11th – 100m freestyle
- 2015 Kazan
- GOLD – 50m freestyle
- GOLD – 100m freestyle
- GOLD – 4x100m freestyle relay
- BRONZE – 4x100m freestyle relay
- 2017 Budapest
- SILVER – 4x100m freestyle relay
- SILVER – mixed 4x100m medley relay
- BRONZE – 4x100m medley relay
- 7th – 100m freestyle
- 8th – 50m freestyle
- 2019 Gwangju
- GOLD – 4x100m freestyle relay
- GOLD – 4x100m mixed medley relay
- SILVER – 4x100m mixed freestyle relay
- 8th – 50m freestyle
- 2013 Barcelona
Though it is a bit early to map out the 2028 Australian Olympic Trials landscape, it will likely be her toughest task yet, given the conveyor belt of Australian sprint freestylers has shown no signs of slowing. Two-time world champion Mollie O’Callaghan isn’t going anywhere, Meg Harris has had the greatest two years of her career, and youngsters Olivia Wunsch, Milla Jansen, and Hannah Casey, among others, are bunched in the 53-second realm and continue to drop time.
Campbell’s personal best of 52.27 in the 100 free, set in 2018, ranks ninth all-time, fourth among Australians, and second among active Australian swimmers. Her 24.12 in the 50 free from 2014 ranks 22nd all-time, sixth among Australians, and third among active Australian swimmers.
No Australian swimmer has ever made five Olympic teams; men’s 50m free world record holder Cameron McEvoy looks like a shoo-in to do so, with Campbell’s declaration now raising the possibility of two swimmers achieving the feat.
Outside the pool, Campbell has been focused on Earthletica, a sustainable activewear brand she co-founded in late 2024.
I’ve been enjoying their podcast.
And what an extraordinary list of achievements. She also has comm games individual Gold and many relay medals (mostly gold) from comm games and pan pacs. She gets over shadowed sometimes such that we forget how good she is. How many USA swimmers have been faster than 52.27? Simone and who else?
Just Simone I believe.
Huske #2 at 52.29 from Paris
Suddenly AUS w4x100 free has a chance against USA in 2028 LA
The US ONLY has a chance of winning if Big G is allowed to do her leg as butterfly with a flip turn
I doubt Bronte will make the team let alone be the deciding leg in the final
Yeah I’ll be surprised if she makes it. Bronte would be 34 years old at 2028 Olympic Trials. Two years older than Cate was when she missed the team.
Planning to try a McAvoy approach to 50fr maybe? She has the base, and has now had some time to let injuries and fatigue repair, so who knows???
Sjöström will be pushing 35 in 2028 also.