Complete race footage is below and courtesy of swimswam partner Universal Sports Network.
Swimswam coverage of the women’s 100 freestyle final at the 2013 FINA World Championships:
Before the events began Australian Cate Campbell was asked if this race felt like revenge after missing the 2012 individual event at the Olympics due to illness, she corrected the interviewer, not revenge, motivation.
Campbell was motivated indeed going out in a time of 24.85, 61 one-hundredths of a second ahead of Britta Steffen’s 2009 world record. Sarah Sjostrom of Sweden made a push in the last 15 meters when Campbell began to tie up, but did not have enough to catch the Australian who won the event in a time of 52.34.
Campbell who came into the world championships as the world’s top ranked swimmer set herself up well for a great individual event after leading the Australian 4 x 100 freestyle relay off in a time of 52.33 earlier in the competition.
Sjostrom was expected to be a threat in the last 50 meters after swimming a 26.99 in the second half of her swim yesterday’s semi-final. She was just that again recording a 27.33, the fastest second 50 in the field once again.
Sjostrom finished second in a time of 52.89.
Olympic champion Ranomi Kromowidjojo of the Netherlands and American Missy Franklinbattled the entire race. Kromowidjojo was ahead of Franklin at the 50 by one one-hundredth of a second and at the finish Kromowidjojo collected the bronze in a time of 53.42 just ahead of Franklin who finished fourth in a time of 53.47.
Kromowidjojo finished in the same spot she did at the 2011 World Championships.
Femke Heemskerk of the Netherlands finished fifth in a season’s best time of 53.67.
World record holder Britta Steffen of Germany finished sixth in a time of 53.75.
Yi Tang of China, the Olympic bronze medalist finished seventh in a time of 54.09 while AmericanShannon Vreeland finished eighth in a time of 54.49.
Ugh, American coverage. Wonderful swim by Campbell!!! She has overcome so much and there was a lot of pressure to take this.
Ha. I remember Shannon rollason’s big letters on his whiteboard one morning in jan 07 – 14 year old goes 24.9 . Plus a cryptic message to his squad which included the Olympic champ.
Jodie was later accepted to train with Cat’s group but when she turned up at the pool she found out it was 25 metre . She does not do 25 mtre pools & thus the end.
Jodie took individuality to an art form.
Jodie Henry is another one who did not fully realize her talent.
I can’t believe that she rarely went to training and yet still won 2005 worlds.
Cate Campbell deserved her title. She supported Coutts in a fantastic way when Alicia needed it most. A true team player and what a swimming she executes! I’ve seen no other woman than Cate Campbell to swim so long in a sprint event. There is a world record in that woman. She didn’t win by a body length as I predicted but the reason for that was an excellent Sjöström not bad Campbell. They were both magnificent.
Let’s face it, both marquee medals will travel to Australia.
Yep. I couldn’t agree more. Well said.