1. Early life and background
Cate Natalie Campbell is the eldest of five children born to South African parents, Eric, an accountant, and Jenny, a nurse. Her younger siblings include three sisters, Bronte, Jessica, and Abigail, and one brother, Hamish, who lives with severe cerebral palsy and requires continuous care.
Jenny, Campbell's mother, was also a swimmer and taught her three daughters to swim in the family's home pool. Campbell has vivid childhood memories of swimming near hippopotami in Lake Malawi, which is the second deepest lake in Africa. Her father, Eric, would often go sailing on this lake during weekends. The Campbell children were homeschooled and grew up in a large house without a television, surrounded by numerous pets including turkeys, guinea pigs, dogs, cats, and chickens. Campbell described her mornings as akin to "an Easter egg hunt" due to the chickens laying eggs all around the house.
1.1. Childhood and education
During her schooling, Campbell found that while she did not excel in singing or dancing, swimming was an area where she truly shone. She also recalled receiving top marks for public speaking. Despite these strengths, she considered herself an "average student" overall. Her mother regularly read the Bible to her during her upbringing.
The Campbell family relocated from Malawi to Australia in 2001. Shortly after their move, Campbell began her competitive swimming career. She completed her secondary education at Kenmore State High School in Brisbane, Queensland. Her sister Bronte also became an Olympic swimmer, and they competed in the same events at the 2012 Summer Olympics. They notably won a gold medal together as part of the Australian women's 4 × 100 metre freestyle team at the 2016 Summer Olympics.
Since 2011, Campbell has been pursuing a degree in Mass Communication at Queensland University of Technology. She is a member of the QUT Elite Athlete program and has expressed her aspiration to combine her interests in the media industry with her passion for sport in her post-retirement career.
2. Career
Cate Campbell's swimming career spans over two decades, marked by numerous international successes and significant contributions to Australian swimming. She was initially coached by Simon Cusack at the Commercial Swimming Club for more than twenty years. Later in her career, for her fifth and final Olympic campaign bid, she trained with Damien Jones at the Rackley Swimming Club and subsequently with Vince Raleigh at Chandler.
2.1. Olympic participation
Campbell has participated in four Olympic Games, securing multiple medals and achieving notable performances across her appearances.
2.1.1. 2008 Beijing Olympics
At the age of 16, Campbell made her Olympic debut at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. She was the fastest qualifier for the 50 metre freestyle semi-finals with a time of 24.2 s. In the second semi-final, she placed second with a time of 24.42 s, securing a lane in the final. In the final race, she earned a bronze medal, finishing third with a time of 24.17 s. Campbell also contributed to Australia's success by winning a bronze medal as a member of the women's 4 × 100 metre freestyle relay team. She finished 10th in the 100 metre freestyle.
2.1.2. 2012 London Olympics
Leading up to the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Campbell and her sister Bronte faced health challenges, contracting glandular fever in 2010 and battling post-viral fatigue during their training. Despite these obstacles, Cate Campbell was a key member of the Australian team that secured a gold medal in the 4 × 100 metre freestyle relay. Prior to the individual 50 metre event, she was diagnosed with acute pancreatitis. In the women's 50 metre freestyle, she and Bronte competed in the same heat, finishing third and second respectively, qualifying for the semi-finals in tenth and ninth place. However, Cate was eliminated in the semi-finals. She was scratched from the 100 metre freestyle event.
2.1.3. 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics
At the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Campbell continued her success. She earned a gold medal as part of the Australian women's 4 × 100 metre freestyle relay team, which included her sister Bronte. The team set a new world record with a time of NaN Q s. She also secured a silver medal as a member of the women's 4 × 100 metre medley relay team.
In the individual events, Campbell was a strong favorite for the 100 metre freestyle final. She broke the Olympic record in both the heats (52.78 s) and semi-finals (52.71 s). However, in the final, despite leading at the first turn, she faded and finished sixth with a time of 53.24 s. She narrowly missed a medal in the 50 metre freestyle final, placing fifth. Following the Rio Olympics, Campbell took a break from competitive swimming in 2017 to recover from the disappointment, using the time for "normal things" and taking her first real break from training since the age of nine.
2.1.4. 2020 Tokyo Olympics
Campbell qualified for her fourth Olympic Games, the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, becoming only the third Australian swimmer to achieve this feat, after Leisel Jones and Emily Seebohm. On July 7, 2021, she was announced as one of Australia's flagbearers for the Opening Ceremony, alongside basketball player Patty Mills, making her the first Australian female swimmer to hold this honor.
In Tokyo, Campbell, alongside Emma McKeon, Meg Harris, and her sister Bronte, won gold in the women's 4 × 100 metre freestyle relay, breaking Australia's previous record. This marked Campbell's third consecutive gold medal in this event. She then secured a bronze medal in the 100 metre freestyle, finishing behind Emma McKeon (gold) and Siobhán Haughey of Hong Kong (silver). On day nine of the Olympics, Campbell placed seventh in the 50 metre freestyle final. Just thirty minutes later, she and the Australian team, comprising Kaylee McKeown, Chelsea Hodges, and Emma McKeon, won gold in the women's medley relay.
2.2. World Aquatics Championships
Cate Campbell has achieved significant success at the World Aquatics Championships throughout her career.
At the 2009 World Aquatics Championships in Rome, despite a strong 100 metre time trial and having hip problems, she was scratched from the women's 4 × 100 metre freestyle relay. However, she still competed in the 50 metre freestyle, where she earned a bronze medal, finishing 0.02 seconds off the Commonwealth Record and ahead of compatriot Libby Trickett.
At the 2013 Australian Swimming Championships, Campbell won gold in both the 50 metre and 100 metre freestyle events, securing her qualification for the 2013 World Aquatics Championships in Barcelona. At the World Championships, she teamed up with her sister Bronte, Emma McKeon, and Alicia Coutts in the 4 × 100 metre freestyle relay, where they won a silver medal, finishing just 0.12 s behind the American team. On the sixth day of competition, Campbell claimed the 100 metre freestyle world title with a time of 52.34 s, finishing ahead of Sarah Sjöström of Sweden and defending Olympic champion Ranomi Kromowidjojo. She also won silver medals in the 50 metre freestyle and the 4 × 100 metre medley relay.
At the 2015 World Aquatics Championships in Kazan, Campbell won gold in the 4 × 100 metre freestyle relay, comfortably defeating the Dutch and US teams. In the 100 metre freestyle event, she finished third, earning a bronze medal, behind her sister Bronte Campbell and Sarah Sjöström.
At the 2019 World Aquatics Championships in Gwangju, Campbell secured two gold medals in the 4 × 100 metre freestyle relay and the 4 × 100 metre mixed medley relay. She also won silver medals in the 100 metre freestyle and the 4 × 100 metre medley relay, and a bronze medal in the 50 metre freestyle.
2.3. Commonwealth Games
Campbell has been a prominent figure at the Commonwealth Games, achieving multiple medals.
At the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, she won three gold medals in the 100 metre freestyle, 4 × 100 metre freestyle relay, and 4 × 100 metre medley relay. She also secured a silver medal in the 50 metre freestyle.
Campbell returned to competition at the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast. She won gold and broke the world record in the women's 4 × 100 metre freestyle relay, swimming alongside her sister Bronte, Emma McKeon, and Shayna Jack. She then claimed another gold medal in the women's 50 metre freestyle with a time of 23.78 s, setting a new Commonwealth record. Demonstrating her versatility, she also won gold in the women's 50 metre butterfly, despite having no prior experience in the stroke. She stated that she opted for the event to "shake things up" and "to try something new and different." Campbell earned a silver medal in the 100 metre freestyle with a time of 52.69 s, finishing just behind her sister Bronte, who won gold with 52.27 s.
2.4. Pan Pacific Championships
Cate Campbell has achieved significant success at the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships.
At the 2014 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships on the Gold Coast, she earned four gold medals, winning the 50 metre freestyle, 100 metre freestyle, 4 × 100 metre freestyle relay, and 4 × 100 metre medley relay.
Following a break after the Rio Olympics, Campbell made a strong comeback at the 2018 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in Tokyo. She achieved an impressive five gold medals, dominating the 50 metre freestyle, 100 metre freestyle, 4 × 100 metre freestyle relay, 4 × 100 metre medley relay, and 4 × 100 metre mixed medley relay. This performance marked a significant return to form.
2.5. Other major competitions and activities
Beyond the major championships, Campbell has also competed in other significant events. At the 2011 Summer Universiade in Shenzhen, she won a gold medal in the 4 × 100 metre freestyle relay and a bronze medal in the 50 metre freestyle.
3. Records and achievements
Cate Campbell has established herself as a record-breaking swimmer, holding numerous world, Olympic, and personal best records throughout her career.
3.1. World Records
Campbell has held or currently holds several world records in both long course and short course swimming events.
3.1.1. Long course
Campbell has set multiple world records in long course metres:
- 4 × 100 metre mixed freestyle relay:** NaN Q s at the BHP Billiton Aquatic Super Series in Perth, Australia, on February 1, 2014 (Former).
- 4 × 100 metre freestyle relay:** NaN Q s at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, on July 24, 2014 (Former).
- 100 metre freestyle:** 52.06 s at the Australia Grand Prix in Brisbane, Australia, on July 2, 2016 (Former). This time was 0.01 s faster than the previous world record set by Britta Steffen during the super suit era.
- 4 × 100 metre freestyle relay:** NaN Q s at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on August 6, 2016 (Former).
- 4 × 100 metre freestyle relay:** NaN Q s at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Queensland, on April 5, 2018 (Former).
- 4 × 100 metre freestyle relay:** NaN Q s at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, on July 25, 2021 (Former).
3.1.2. Short course
Campbell has also achieved several world records in short course metres:
- 4 × 50 metre mixed medley relay:** NaN Q s (heats) at the 2013 FINA World Cup in Singapore on November 5, 2013 (Former).
- 4 × 50 metre mixed medley relay:** NaN Q s at the 2013 FINA World Cup in Singapore on November 5, 2013 (Former).
- 4 × 50 metre mixed medley relay:** NaN Q s at the 2013 FINA World Cup in Tokyo, Japan, on November 9, 2013 (Former).
- 4 × 50 metre mixed freestyle relay:** NaN Q s (heats) at the 2013 FINA World Cup in Tokyo, Japan, on November 10, 2013 (Former).
- 4 × 50 metre mixed freestyle relay:** NaN Q s at the 2013 FINA World Cup in Tokyo, Japan, on November 10, 2013 (Former).
- 100 metre freestyle:** 50.91 s at the Australian Short Course Championships in Sydney, Australia, on November 28, 2015 (Former). This made her the first woman to swim under 51 s.
- 100 metre freestyle:** 50.25 s at the Australian Short Course Championships in Adelaide, Australia, on October 26, 2017 (Current). She improved the previous mark by 0.33 s.
3.2. Olympic Records
Campbell has set or contributed to breaking several Olympic records in long course metres:
- 4 × 100 metre freestyle relay:** NaN Q s at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, United Kingdom, on July 28, 2012 (Former).
- 4 × 100 metre freestyle relay:** NaN Q s (heats) at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on August 6, 2016 (Former).
- 4 × 100 metre freestyle relay:** NaN Q s at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on August 6, 2016 (Former World, Oceanian, and National Record).
- 100 metre freestyle:** 52.78 s (heats) at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on August 10, 2016 (Former).
- 100 metre freestyle:** 52.71 s (semifinals) at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on August 10, 2016 (Former).
- 4 × 100 metre freestyle relay:** NaN Q s at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, on July 25, 2021 (Former World, Oceanian, and National Record).
- 4 × 100 metre medley relay:** NaN Q s at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, on August 1, 2021 (Former Oceanian and National Record).
3.3. Personal Bests
Campbell's personal best times in major swimming strokes and events are as follows:
| Long course | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Event | Time | Date | Location |
| 50 m freestyle | 23.78 s CR | 2018-04-07 | Southport, Australia |
| 100 m freestyle | 52.03 s CR | 2018-08-10 | Tokyo, Japan |
| 50 m butterfly | 25.47 s OC | 2018-03-01 | Gold Coast, Australia |
| Short course | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Event | Time | Date | Location |
| 50 m freestyle | 23.19 s CR | 2017-10-27 | Adelaide, Australia |
| 100 m freestyle | 50.25 s WR | 2017-10-26 | Adelaide, Australia |
Notes: WR = world record, CR = Commonwealth record, OC = Oceanian record
3.4. Major Medal Tally
Cate Campbell's consolidated medal count from major international competitions is as follows:
| Competition | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Olympic Games | 4 | 1 | 3 | 8 |
| World Championships (LC) | 4 | 5 | 3 | 12 |
| Pan Pacific Championships | 9 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| Commonwealth Games | 6 | 2 | 0 | 8 |
| Universiade | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
4. Personal life
Cate Campbell's life outside of competitive swimming includes various personal experiences, interests, and challenges.
4.1. Body image and mental health
In 2015, Campbell openly discussed her struggles with body image. She confessed to feeling pressure from television and magazine models to be skinny, which led to her becoming unwell. She found inspiration in a chapter from Michael Phelps' book Beneath the Surface, particularly the line "skinny swimmers aren't good swimmers." Her mother encouraged her to consult a dietitian, and Campbell now advocates the belief that "the sum of your worth is so much more than what you look like." After the Rio Olympics in 2016, her mother, Jenny, expressed concerns about Cate possibly experiencing depression due to her struggles, which contributed to Campbell taking a break from competitive swimming in 2017.
4.2. Beliefs and education
While her Twitter profile identifies her as an atheist, Campbell previously identified as a Christian in 2010 and 2011, stating that she relied on God for her "strength and love." At that time, her family attended a local Baptist church in Brisbane.
Since 2011, Campbell has been pursuing a degree in Mass Communication at Queensland University of Technology. She has expressed her desire to pursue a career that integrates her interest in the media industry with her passion for sport once she retires from swimming. She is also a member of the QUT Elite Athlete program.
4.3. Other activities and interests
Until December 2016, Campbell lived with her sister Bronte. As of 2017, they no longer shared a residence, and Campbell subsequently purchased a house in Morningside, Queensland.
Outside of swimming, Campbell enjoys hiking, listening to music, solving newspaper crosswords, and brewing Kombucha. She also owns a kayak. She is a dedicated supporter of Nexus Care, a non-profit organization focused on improving the lives of individuals experiencing poverty in the northern suburbs of Brisbane.
4.4. Health issues
In November 2018, Campbell publicly disclosed that she had been diagnosed with a stage one melanoma that developed from a mole she had had her entire life. The melanoma was successfully removed. Following her diagnosis, she urged her fans to undergo regular skin checks, emphasizing that "an hour out of your day once or twice a year is all it takes." Her openness about her experience has been widely praised for raising awareness about skin cancer.
5. Career end and retirement
Following the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, Cate Campbell took an 18-month break from swimming. She later announced her intention to compete for a fifth and final Olympic appearance, aiming to become the first Australian swimmer to achieve this milestone. However, at the 2024 Australian Swimming Trials, her Olympic hopes concluded. She placed ninth in the 100 metre freestyle heats, missing progression to the final by just 0.01 s. Her last chance for a fifth Olympic team hinged on a top-two finish in the 50 metre freestyle, but she placed seventh in that event.
After the race, Campbell was embraced by her sister Bronte and the other finalists. Following a standing ovation from the crowd, she confirmed her retirement in an emotional post-race interview, bidding farewell to the Chandler pool where her competitive career had begun. Her competitors paid tribute to her, acknowledging her role in setting high standards in sprint freestyle both nationally and internationally, and for being an inspiration both in and out of the pool.
6. Assessment and influence
Cate Campbell is widely regarded as one of Australia's most exceptional swimmers and one of the greatest relay swimmers in the history of the sport. At the time of her retirement, she held four of the fastest 100 metre freestyle splits ever recorded. She is particularly recognized, alongside her sister Bronte, as the leading figure in the Australian women's sprinting dynasty, a testament to their collective and individual achievements in freestyle events.
Her legacy extends beyond her remarkable athletic accomplishments. Campbell's willingness to openly discuss her struggles with body image and mental health, especially after the challenges of the 2016 Rio Olympics, has made her an inspirational figure. Her advocacy for regular skin checks after her melanoma diagnosis further highlights her commitment to public well-being. Campbell's career has not only set competitive benchmarks but has also provided profound inspiration to fellow athletes and the broader community, demonstrating resilience, honesty, and dedication both in and out of the pool.