An emotional Cate Campbell fell short in her bid to qualify for a fifth Olympic Games after finishing seventh in the 50m freestyle final. Despite the heartbreak of missing the 100m freestyle final by one-hundredth of a second, Campbell managed to win her heat and qualify as the sixth-fastest for the 50m final in Brisbane on Saturday. However, she needed a top-two finish in the final to secure a spot for Paris, but ultimately came in seventh place with a time of 24.76 seconds.
The victory in the final went to Shayna Jack, who finished in 23.99 seconds, followed by Meg Harris in second place with a time of 24.26. This qualification marked Harris’s first individual swim at the Olympics, adding to the significance of the moment.
After the race, a teary Campbell shared a touching moment with her fellow swimmers, both in and out of the pool, before addressing the media. She expressed her admiration for the two swimmers who qualified for the Olympics and put their celebrations on hold to support her, calling it an incredible moment that she will always cherish.
While Campbell’s Olympic dream may have come to an end, she reflected on her career with pride, stating that she can leave the sport with her head held high. Despite the disappointment of not achieving a fairytale ending, she acknowledged the effort she put in to accomplish something unprecedented.
In addition to Campbell’s story, Cody Simpson also fell short in his attempt to qualify for Paris on the final day of the Australian Olympic swimming trials. Simpson, who had qualified fifth for the 100m butterfly final, finished in fifth place with a time of 51.79. The first and second place in the final went to Matt Temple and Ben Armbruster, respectively.
The Australian Olympic swim trials require swimmers to finish in the top two of the A final of their event and meet Swimming Australia’s challenging qualifying times. While only one qualification is needed to make the team, swimmers can attempt other events as well. The final team for the Paris Olympics will be announced after the completion of all events.
The trials, held at the Brisbane Aquatic Centre, have showcased the talent and determination of Australian swimmers as they strive to secure their spots for the upcoming Olympics. The competition has been fierce, with swimmers pushing themselves to meet and exceed the rigorous qualifying times set by Swimming Australia.
As the trials continue, spectators and fans eagerly await the announcement of the final team that will represent Australia in Paris. The stories of resilience, determination, and sportsmanship displayed by athletes like Cate Campbell serve as a reminder of the dedication and passion that drive these swimmers to achieve their Olympic dreams.