Cate Campbell Ties 5th Fastest All-Time 100 Free At Japan Open

2016 JAPAN OPEN

• Friday, May 20th-22nd
• Tokyo, Japan
• Tokyo Tatsumi International Swimming Center
• Prelims: 9:30 AM Local Time / 8:30 PM Eastern (the day before)
• Finals: 4:00 PM Local Time / 3:00 AM Eastern (the day of)
• Meet Central
• Psych Sheets (in Japanese)
• Results (English)
• Meet Preview

After a blistering morning swim of 53.06, Australian Cate Campbell did not disappoint at day 2 finals of the Japan Open, tying her world leading time of 52.38 with a decisive win in Tokyo. Campbell’s other 52.38 this year came just over a month ago at the Australian Olympic Trials in Adelaide. The two swims are now tied for the 5th fastest performances in history.

Campbell now owns performances three through seven on the all-time top ten list, with Germany’s Britta Steffen holding down number one and two with two of her swims from the 2009 World Championships in Rome during the “super suit” era. Here’s a look at the top-10 all-time fastest performances:

With Cate holding five of the all-time top ten and her sister Bronte Campbell holding down two, the Campbell sisters own seven of the ten fastest performances in history, all done without the suits from 2009.

Here’s a comparison of Britta Steffen‘s world record splits, Cate’s splits from her fastest swim of all-time, and her swim today in Japan:

• Britta Steffen, 2009 World Championships: 25.46 / 52.07 (26.61)
• Cate Campbell, 2013 World Championships: 25.19 / 52.33 (27.14)
• Cate Campbell, 2016 Japan Open: 25.09 / 52.38 (27.29)

Campbell has historically had more front end speed than Steffen did throughout her career, but it’s the back half where Steffen was able to make up so much ground.

The Campbell sisters remain as the top two in the world in the 100 freestyle, positions likely to hold up until the Olympics in Rio.

Australia has sent many top swimmers to the Japan Open this weekend, include freestyle stars Cameron McEvoy and James Magnussen, along with Bronte Campbell who finished 3rd in the 100 freestyle behind Cate and Japanese star Rikako Ikee. Read all about the Australians in Tokyo here.

The Campbell sisters will compete in the 50 freestyle on the final day of the competition.