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Campbell Sets 100 Free Commonwealth Record With #2 Swim Of All-Time

2018 PAN PACIFIC CHAMPIONSHIPS

Australian Cate Campbell swam the 2nd fastest 100 freestyle in history to win gold at the Pan Pacific Championships and lower her own Commonwealth, Oceanian, Australian and Championship Meet Records.

We knew Campbell was on good form after her record-breaking relay leg on day 1, splitting the fastest ever in 50.93, but still came into this final with her hands full as American Simone Manuel had won gold at both the 2016 Olympic Games and 2017 World Championships.

Campbell left no doubt with the fastest opening (25.09) and closing 50 splits (26.94) in the field to hit a time of 52.03 and lower her Commonwealth, Oceanian and Australian marks of 52.06, set in July of 2016, and take out her Pan Pac Record of 52.62 set four years ago in the heats. She did win gold back in 2014 on the Gold Coast and has now successfully defended her title.

Campbell’s performance does end up as the #2 performance of all-time, trailing only Sweden’s Sarah Sjostrom and her world record of 51.71 done at last summer’s World Championships. The 26-year-old now owns the #2 and #3 swims of all-time.

Fastest Performances Ever
1 Sarah Sjostrom 51.71
2 Cate Campbell 52.03
3 Cate Campbell 52.06
4 Britta Steffen 52.07
5 Sarah Sjostrom 52.08
6 Britta Steffen 52.22
7 Simone Manuel 52.27
8 Bronte Campbell 52.27
9 Bronte Campbell 52.27
10 Sarah Sjostrom 52.28

Manuel won silver in a time of 52.66, and Canadian Taylor Ruck took bronze in a new personal best of 52.72. For Ruck, she falls just .02 shy of Penny Oleksiak‘s National Record set at the 2016 Games.

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marklewis
6 years ago

Cate held back that first 50, and then really got going off the wall. She looked relieved as well as happy.

She’ll have a lot of big races in the future to test her nerves under pressure. She came through with a PB this time around.

Matterson
Reply to  marklewis
6 years ago

Clearly the strategy was to be conservative on the first lap, then pour it on for the second. Too many times she brakes down coming home – I hope she adopts this for her future races.

Love to Swim
6 years ago

Women’s 100m free final

https://youtu.be/PNGUTlWUtjU

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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