Bronte Campbell Feeling “A Little Bit Of Relief” With Tokyo Postponement

Like many athletes, Australian Olympic gold medalist Bronte Campbell is choosing to look as the postponement of the Tokyo Games to 2021 as a positive, as it allows more time to prepare and improve. But for Campbell, it also allows her to fully recover from some lingering injuries and not rush in to competing at what could very well be her last Olympics.

Featured on Australia’s SEN Radio with host Gerard Whateley on Tuesday, Campbell shared her immediate feelings once the Games were finally postponed.

“It was actually a little bit of relief, I think because there was a huge sort of uncertainty building up to it and I actually couldn’t see it going ahead,” said the 25-year-old. “So I was thinking they might actually just cancel them, and there would be another four years until the next Olympics, which would’ve been devastating because I’m not sure I’ll do another four years. But I can make myself do another year, that’s foreseeable.”

While confident she would be able to perform this summer, the Sydney resident admits it was a bit of a rush to get everything into place amid the health concerns.

“I had a pretty rough start to the year with injuries so I was really fighting the clock to get up and running and fit in time for the Trials and then the Olympics,” she said. “I did feel like I was going to make it but it was going to be a really tough push and a very fine line. That doesn’t mean it wasn’t achievable, but I did feel like I was racing the clock a bit.

“While I was aiming to peak this year, it’s sort of nice for me to be able to have a better build-up this time if I can keep injuries under control, which this break will probably help me do.”

Last getting the opportunity to train in the water four weeks ago, right around when the Games were officially postponed, Campbell has found the pause in the daily grind has made her appreciate it that much more.

“Taking a break from training for me just reiterates to myself how much I want to do it,” she said. “How much I love it. When you’re in it you tend to complain about it, once it’s taken away you tend to appreciate it a little bit more.”

As she mentioned, the five-time Commonwealth champion is moving towards the end of her career (though older sister Cate Campbell is considering swimming through to Paris). Through all of her experience, including two Olympic appearances, she’s choosing to focus directly on things within her control, namely times, rather than medals.

“My goal is to make (the Olympics) for the 100 freestyle,” she said. “Especially to qualify in Australia is incredibly tough because we’ve got Cate and Emma McKeon here, so we’ve got three out of the top-five freestyle swimmers in the world, which is pretty incredbile. The goal is to qualify, obviously, first, and then my ultimate goal is to be in the 100-meter Olympic final and to swim my best-ever time, in that final. There are very few people that end up swimming their best time in an Olympic final so to be able to do that would be incredible. And that puts you in a very good medal position if you do do that.

“But that’s not what I focus on, that’s not something I can control, really. All I can control is doing better than I’ve ever done before. It sounds pretty simple but it ends up being a pretty lofty goal.”

However, it is worth noting that Campbell isn’t completely ruling out swimming on to the next Olympics.

“When I was younger I would get very caught up in the results of the meet and that would really color the whole experience, but this time around I really just want to take it all in and enjoy it, because I really don’t think I’m going to go until 2024,” she said.

“Who knows, after this one it’s only three years, right? So maybe I can do another three years, but I haven’t committed to that yet. I’ve got my goals in the pool, but just that little mindfulness, stopping and looking around and taking it all in because for me it feels like, it’s not yet at a close, but it’s getting towards that.”

Campbell also shared some of her thoughts on the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, where she came in as the reigning World Champion in the women’s 50 and 100 freestyle.

While she and Cate led Australia to gold and a new world record in the women’s 400 free relay, both failed to medal in either race individually.

Contrary to public opinion, Bronte was actually pleased with her performance given that her shoulder problems first arose earlier that year.

“Surprisingly, Rio wasn’t what everyone thought it was for me,” she said. “I was obviously very upset for Cate because it was a really heartbreaking time for her, but that was the year my injury started, I didn’t really know how to deal with it. I hadn’t been able to train properly for eight months.”

In the 2016 100 free final, Bronte finished fourth, .04 outside of the medals, in a time of 53.04. The year prior she had set her best time at 52.52.

“I was actually really excited with how I ended up performing despite all this injury stuff that had been going on,” she said. “But I didn’t tell everyone about that, so everyone just saw that I had swum about half a second off my best and that I should be disappointed. But that wasn’t something that really mattered to me.”

On the topic of how the two sisters manage racing the same events, knowing that one’s victory can often mean another’s disappointment, Bronte simply opts to celebrate her sister’s success when it comes.

“You definitely have to confront it and make peace with it, and I think it’s acknowledging that our sport and our enjoyment in it is more than just one moment,” she said. “It’s more than just one race and it’s even more than just one year. We’ve both been doing it for a long time. It’s sort of acknowledging that there are peaks and troughs in everything, and just because someone’s shining doesn’t mean you won’t get a chance. And it doesn’t mean you don’t get to enjoy that for them.

“The nicest thing is that if I don’t swim a very good race and I feel like I’ve done a bad job and I get to see my sister do a good job, that livens my mood a little bit. So there can be some really good things in it.”

You can listen to Bronte’s full interview below:

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Gheko
4 years ago

Bronte has a PB of 52.27, which not many women have bettered, from the Commonwealth Games in 2018, where she beat Cate, Taylor Ruck, Penny etc.

Breezeway
4 years ago

“we’ve got three out of the top-five freestyle swimmers in the world” 🙄

Troyy
Reply to  Breezeway
4 years ago

The last 12 months:
comment image

Admin
Reply to  Troyy
4 years ago

Yeah I mean, I don’t think I disagree with her.

There’s a few swimmers who might burst that bubble (Anna Hopkin, Freya Anderson, Siobhan Haughey, Mallory Comerford if she gets back on form), but from what we know right now, hard to argue with her.

Breezeway
Reply to  Braden Keith
4 years ago

There was that time on 07/26/2019 when the lights were on and the WORLD got together, I saw 2 in the top 8, not 3. But I guess that doesn’t matter. At one time, BC was top 5, not now when everyone is READY to roll. She’s still a very good relay performer though.

Admin
Reply to  Breezeway
4 years ago

….the rules don’t allow for one country to have 3 in the top 8 at a World Championship meet. So, that’s a very strange argument in this case.

Breezeway
Reply to  Braden Keith
4 years ago

that is true. But right now out of everyone rested, I don’t think she’s top 5. She’s still good though, I agree with that

SAMUEL HUNTINGTON
Reply to  Breezeway
4 years ago

who is better than Bronte then?

Samesame
Reply to  Breezeway
4 years ago

Seriously ? Two per country mate

M D E
4 years ago

If you are umming and ahhing about a sport like swimming you are usually pretty much done.

Hope I’m wrong though, because she would be a tremendous help for the Australian 4×100

Samesame
Reply to  M D E
4 years ago

It didn’t read at all like she is umming and ahhing for 2021. Just for 2024. .

Swimmer
Reply to  M D E
4 years ago

I think there’s a massive difference between umming and ahhing because your heart’s not in it and umming and ahhing because your body is reaching its limit. It sounds like Bronte is doing the second – this recovery time could be great for her.

Gheko
4 years ago

Hope Bronte recovers well because a healthy Bronte is always dangerous!

Coach Mike 1952
4 years ago

Ideal would be she recovers fully for Tokyo & we have a lights out 100 Free final as well as the relays.

Smith-King-Dahlia-Manuel
Reply to  Coach Mike 1952
4 years ago

C1 will be 29 years old (DOB 20 May 1992) and C2 will be 27 years old (DOB 14 May 1994) at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.

Gheko
Reply to  Smith-King-Dahlia-Manuel
4 years ago

Dara Torres was 40+

SAMUEL HUNTINGTON
4 years ago

I just want to see Cate, Bronte, and Emma to all be at their absolute best in the 400 relay. It seems like we never get to see that. But wow would it be something special (I could see flying splits of Emma – 52.0, Bronte – 51.8, Cate – 50.9)

Dee
Reply to  SAMUEL HUNTINGTON
4 years ago

Even if you go conservative for the Aussies they’re well under 3.30 – Some team.

Troyy
Reply to  SAMUEL HUNTINGTON
4 years ago

It’ll be a shame if the team never realises it’s full WR potential or close to it before the Campbells retire which if Tokyo doesn’t go ahead there may not be another chance.

Samesame
Reply to  SAMUEL HUNTINGTON
4 years ago

Oh yes ! Absolutely would pay to see that ! Who would the fourth swimmer be ? Throssall ? Wilson? Or possibly one of the World junior swimmers from 2019?

SAMUEL HUNTINGTON
Reply to  Samesame
4 years ago

Looks like Wilson right now, but you’re right a year from now, it could be a junior

Samesame
Reply to  SAMUEL HUNTINGTON
4 years ago

Possibly Meg Harris . Earned bronze at World Juniors .

Troyy
Reply to  Samesame
4 years ago

Wilson was looking so good at the NSW State Champs (PB’d in all the free events she swam (50/100/200/400)) but it’s so long until Tokyo now.

Smith-King-Dahlia-Manuel
Reply to  SAMUEL HUNTINGTON
4 years ago

Yet managed to set world records in the women’s 4 x 100m freestyle relay in 2014, 2016, 2018.

Troyy
4 years ago

It’s a real shame she’s still struggling so much with injury after taking time out and having surgery.

Samesame
4 years ago

What a class act ! Best wishes for next year Bronte 👍🏼.

Swimmer
Reply to  Samesame
4 years ago

Totally agree. Both Campbells have been extremely unlucky with injury. It’s amazing that they’ve managed to stay at the top of their games for so long 👍🏽

About James Sutherland

James Sutherland

James swam five years at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, specializing in the 200 free, back and IM. He finished up his collegiate swimming career in 2018, graduating with a bachelor's degree in economics. In 2019 he completed his graduate degree in sports journalism. Prior to going to Laurentian, James swam …

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