Kenmore’s Olympic Hero Cate Campbell Announces Retirement

Cate Campbell, Kenmore’s own swimming legend and four-time Olympian, has officially announced her retirement from elite swimming. The decision comes after an illustrious career spanning over two decades, marked by numerous world records and Olympic triumphs.

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Early beginnings and rise to stardom

Campbell’s journey began in a lake in Malawi, South East Africa, where her mother first taught her to swim. From these humble beginnings, she rose to become a dominant force in Australian swimming. Her talent was first recognized at the 2007 Youth Olympic Games in Sydney, where she won the 50m freestyle at just 14 years old.

Olympic glory and world records

Throughout her career, Campbell amassed an impressive collection of accolades:
– Eight Olympic medals, with four being gold
– Twelve World Championship medals, with four being gold
– Seven world records
– Six Commonwealth Games gold medals

Her prowess in the 100m freestyle is particularly noteworthy, with Campbell holding three of the fastest times in the World All-Time Top Ten.

Campbell’s impact extended beyond individual events. She was a crucial member of Australia’s relay teams, anchoring the 4x100m freestyle relay to three consecutive Olympic victories in London, Rio, and Tokyo. Her relay performances include the four fastest 100m freestyle relay splits ever recorded.

A bittersweet ending

Campbell’s competitive career concluded at the Australian Olympic Trials in Brisbane. On June 15, she finished seventh in the 50m freestyle final, won by Shayna Jack. The day before, Campbell narrowly missed the 100m freestyle final by 0.01 seconds, declining media interviews afterwards. These events marked the end of the four-time Olympic gold medalist’s remarkable journey in competitive swimming.

While Campbell’s immediate plans include supporting her sister Bronte and the Australian team at the Paris Olympics, her long-term future plans remain undisclosed. In her retirement announcement, she expressed gratitude to her support network and fans.

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Campbell’s retirement marks the end of an era and a new beginning for Australian swimming. Her journey from a local pool in Indooroopilly to the world stage has inspired a new generation of swimmers in the area and across the nation—with enormous shoes to fill.

As Kenmore bids farewell to its swimming queen, Cate Campbell leaves behind a legacy of excellence, perseverance, and sportsmanship that will continue to inspire future generations.

Published 07-July-2024

Kenmore Swim Star Cate Campbell Ends Olympic Bid with Emotional Farewell

Kenmore pays tribute to hometown swimming legend and Kenmore State High School alumna Cate Campbell as she makes a graceful exit after narrowly missing out on qualifying for her fifth Olympic Games. The talented swimmer has collected eight Olympic medals across four previous Olympics.



In a night filled with high emotions, Cate’s storied career came to a close without the fairytale ending she had hoped for. Despite a world-class performance, timing in at 24.76 seconds and finishing in 7th place in the 50-m freestyle, she acknowledged the significant achievement of her competitors, who paused their celebrations to share a poignant moment with her.

Sister’s Success

Meanwhile, Cate’s sister, Bronte, also a Kenmore State High School alumna, secured her place in the 4x100m freestyle relay, marking her fourth Olympic appearance.

The Australian Olympic Swimming Trials concluded with the announcement of a 41-person swimming team for the Paris Olympics. The team features a mix of seasoned athletes and 22 debutants, including Olympic veterans such as Kyle Chalmers and Emma McKeon.

Emotional Farewell

Reflecting on her career, Cate expressed deep gratitude for the journey and the people she’s encountered along the way. From her beginnings as a 9-year-old budding talent in the Brisbane Aquatic Centre to her final race, she feels privileged to conclude her career meaningfully, surrounded by friends, family, and fans.

Shayna Jack and Meg Harris, who secured their individual Olympic spots during the trials, honoured Cate by delaying their victory celebrations. Their tribute highlighted Cate’s influence and legacy in Australian swimming. Shayna, having won the 50m freestyle final, and Meg, making her first individual Olympic berth, exemplified the rising generation of Australian sprinters.

On the support from competitors: “The fact there were two girls who qualified for an Olympic Games, which is no mean feat, one of them for her first individual spot in Meg Harris — that they put their celebrations on hold and came over is one of the most incredible moments and something I’ll cherish for the rest of my life.”

Cate Campbell: Legacy of a Champion

Cate’s impact on the sport extends beyond her own achievements. As a former world record holder and a multiple Olympic medalist, her career has inspired a new generation of swimmers. Her presence at the trials was a momentous occasion for both fans and fellow competitors, who expressed their admiration and respect for her contributions to Australian swimming.

On her career and the farewell: “Unfortunately, it wasn’t meant to be. I would have loved to have that fairytale ending more than anything else. But I can now sit back and reflect on a wonderful career. I can leave the sport with my head held really high.”

Reflecting on her emotional journey: “It’s bitter-sweet. I had hoped for the fairytale ending and it’s what I had worked for and what I felt I was capable of, and unfortunately my body just said ‘no’.”

On her final moments in the pool: “This is the end, and it’s a perfect way to exit the pool. My first major competition was in this swimming pool, maybe over 20 years ago. I warmed up in this pool just behind us for the first time as a nine-year-old and tonight I warmed up in it as a 32-year-old, and I got to walk out and swim in a swimming pool that I’ve competed in so many times, that I’ve qualified for teams in, that I’ve broken world records in.”

A Look Ahead

As the Paris 2024 Olympics approach, the Australian swimming team looks robust with a blend of experience and fresh talent. The trials have not only marked the end of an era with the retirement of Cate Campbell but also the beginning of promising careers for Australia’s future swimming stars.



Here’s the Australian Olympic swimming team for Paris:  

  • Sprinters and Relay Specialists: Kyle Chalmers, Emma McKeon, Bronte Campbell, Shayna Jack, Meg Harris
  • IM Swimmers: Brendon Smith, Will Petric, Jenna Forrester, Ella Ramsay
  • Distance Freestyle: Lani Pallister, Moesha Johnson
  • Others: Iona Anderson, Ben Armbruster, Jaclyn Barclay, Jack Cartwright, Abbey Connor, Isaac Cooper, Lizzie Dekkers, Max Giuliani, Zac Incerti, Se-Bom Lee, Cameron McEvoy, Kaylee McKeown, Thomas Neill, Mollie O’Callaghan, Alex Perkins, Jamie Perkins, Sam Short, Flynn Southam, Jenna Strauch, Zac Stubblety-Cook, Kai Taylor, Matt Temple, Brianna Throssell, Ariarne Titmus, Sam Williamson, Brad Woodward, Olivia Wunsch, Elijah Winnington, William Yang, Joshua Yong

Published 17-June-2024

Kenmore Olympian Cate Campbell Advocates for Period Supplies at Public Hospitals

Kenmore Olympian Cate Cambell has issued a plea for public hospitals to stock up on period supplies for women, as part of her support for a petition to make this mandatory across the country.



Cate took to Instagram to express her frustration over the lack of female sanitary products at the hospitals. 

“Did you know it’s not mandatory for Public Hospitals to stock period supplies?” the bemedalled 29-year-old wrote. “This means many women arrive in hospital and are forced to use toilet paper, gauze or nothing at all!

“This is just another example of gender inequality – if men had periods, we would not be having this discussion!”

In March, Share the Dignity, a Sandgate-based charitable organisation that has been distributing sanitary products to various vulnerable communities, presented a petition asking the Parliament to pad up on public health. The group is requesting a Federal policy to mandate free pads across public hospitals.  

“While some hospitals do provide period products, it is not mandatory for them to do so. When the provision is managed at an individual hospital level, availability can be limited, and patients have relied on the kindness of doctors, nurses and staff who give pads of their own,” the petition stated. 



“Menstruation is not a choice, and women, girls and those who menstruate should not have to worry about how they manage their period at any point, especially when they are sick and vulnerable. Pads should be free and easily accessible in all hospitals for patients who need them.”

The petition has received 53,259 support. The group also shared that the petition has been tabled and referred to the Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt MP.

Learn more about Cate’s advocacy via Share the Dignity.

Why Australia’s First Gold at Tokyo Olympics is Not Just a Stroke of Luck

Team Australia has won its first gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics after swimmers and Kenmore State High School alumnae Cate Campbell and Bronte Campbell, along with teammates Meg Harris and Emma McKeon, set a new world record for the 4×100-m freestyle relay. Like all worthy endeavours, this historic Olympic win against a sea of world-class swimmers is definitely much more than just a stroke of luck.



Cate, Bronte, Meg and Emma clocked the fastest time at 3 minutes, 29.78 seconds, beating Canada (3:32.78) and USA (3:32:81), as well Team Australia’s 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games record. 

In an impressive display of teamwork, Australia’s relay team showed the world how it’s done.

Bronte opened for Team Australia and inched seconds behind Sweden. She was followed by Meg, the Olympic first-timer who secured the girls’ lead early on. Emma was third in the handover with Cate closing the relay with the determination (and experience!) to seal the win.


Highlights

  • Sisters Cate and Bronte Campbell won Team Australia’s first gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics 4×100-m freestyle relay with fellow swimmers Meg Harris and Emma McKeon.
  • The sisters both went to Kenmore State High School and have been representing Team Australia since 2008 (Cate) and 2012 (Bronte).
  • Cate advocates for early detection and prevention of melanoma cancer, after her diagnosis in 2018.
    Both sisters want to be part of the 2032 Olympics in Brisbane. 

This isn’t the first Olympic competition for the Kenmore State High alums. Thirteen years ago, Cate swam for Team Australia at the 2008 Beijing Games at 16 years old and went home with two bronze medals. She has since competed at four Olympics and was also in Tokyo for the 2018 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships.

Bronte joined her sister at the 2012 London Olympics and made history with Cate as the first Australian sisters to compete in the same swimming event: Women’s 50-m Freestyle. 

Early Life & Challenges

The Campbell sisters were born in Malawi to South African parents, Eric and Jenny. Cate is the oldest of five siblings whilst Bronte is the second child. Their mother was a synchronised swimmer who taught her girls to swim.

The family moved to Australia in 2001, where Cate and Bronte joined the Indooroopilly Swimming Club. While the Campbells have remained in Kenmore Hills, Bronte currently resides in Sydney.

In 2018, Cate was diagnosed with stage 1 melanoma following a routine skin check-up. Her dermatologist recommended surgery for a mole in her arm and she was fortunate to get an all-clear after going through the procedure. 

Since her diagnosis and surgery, the Kenmore local has been advocating for early detection and prevention of stage 1 melanoma before serious health consequences develop. 

Future Plans

Cate, now 29, plans to compete in the 2024 Paris Games or perhaps take a spot at the International Swimming League.



However, Bronte, 27, told AP News that she might retire after Tokyo Olympics due to a five-year struggle with a body injury. To manage her condition, Bronte does yoga, Pilates, acupuncture, float tanks, and frequent consultations with her doctor. Her rehabilitation and prevention routines take as much time as her swim training. 

Both sisters expressed that they would like to help in the organisation of the 2032 Olympics in Brisbane, even if they just have to show the audience their seats at the stadium.