Aussie swimmer Cate Campbell admits it feels ‘bittersweet’ watching her sister Bronte race at the Olympics after her own retirement: ‘I feel like I’m on an emotional rollercoaster’
As I sit here, watching the Olympics from the sidelines for the first time in what feels like forever, I can’t help but feel a mix of emotions. It’s bittersweet to be on this side of things, but I am genuinely enjoying every moment of it.
She is Australia’s golden girl of swimming.
As a gold medal-winning swimmer, I found myself grappling with a new reality when I fell short of qualifying for the Paris Olympics. Adjusting to life outside the pool wasn’t easy, but it was necessary to rediscover my passions and find new meaning beyond competitive swimming.
Watching sister Bronte Campbell compete is also part of the experience, as she resumed competition after my retirement earlier this year.
Currently serving as a commentator on Channel Nine’s sports broadcasts, the 32-year-old has shared insights into her role as an observer of the games.
“Cate expressed that she feels drained [after watching events], as when one is engrossed in their own competition, they rarely have spare time or energy to consider others’ experiences and performances.”
After taking off those restrictive glasses, I can now truly express and feel all the emotions I see expressed in the swimming pool, as the eight-time Olympic medalist clarified.
She mentioned, “Every day feels like a ride on an emotional rollercoaster for me…There’s a tinge of bittersweetness in my current situation, but I’m thoroughly savoring it.”
In another part of our conversation, Cate mentioned that as a ‘spectator’ herself, she can see why Australians develop affection towards the athletes who represent their nation.
She also paid tribute to the Aussie team, especially the female athletes: ‘Most of our of gold [medals] are coming from the girls,’ she gushed.
Meanwhile, Cate has proved to be a winner in her new role as a commentator.
More recently, she made Karl Stefanovic laugh out loud during a live broadcast by jokingly referring to an intriguing gender aspect of the Paris Olympics.
In an interview on Channel Nine following the 4x200m freestyle relay victory by Australian swimmers Mollie O’Callaghan, Lani Pallister, Brianna Throssell, and Ariarne Titmus, Campbell highlighted an impressive fact: All of Australia’s gold medalists at the Games have been women.
‘There is a theme when it comes to the Australian Olympic team at the moment,’ she said.
‘Apparently at the moment if you want to win an Olympic gold medal you have to have a uterus.’
Stefanovic burst out laughing at Campbell’s cheeky one-liner – but she wasn’t finished.
‘Cam McEvoy, he will swim in the 50m freestyle final,’ she said.
‘He is hoping to break that theme… but he doesn’t have the right anatomy at the moment.’
In a subsequent conversation with Ben Fordham on 2GB Radio, Campbell humorously reiterated his gold medal comment for women, stating that they were “excelling significantly,” or “performing exceptionally well,” in swimming competitions, using the phrase “they are on fire in the pool.”
She retired from elite swimming, having made an official announcement about it towards the end of June, following her early exit at the Brisbane national trials while trying to qualify for her fifth Olympics.
‘From little things, big dreams grow,’ Campbell posted on Instagram.
‘After over 20 years, over 35,000km, over 19,000,000 strokes, four Olympics, eight Olympic medals, seven World Records and countless memories it’s time to officially say goodbye to the dream I have had since I was 9-years-old.
‘As of today, I am officially retired from elite sport.
Over the last seven days, I’ve taken some moments to ponder about my professional journey. There have been a variety of feelings, mainly due to the fact that things didn’t turn out as planned in the end. Nevertheless, I can now look back on my career path without any sense of remorse.
In my all-out effort for a fifth Olympic bid, though it didn’t result in success, there remains an enduring, untarnishable sense of pride within me.
Cate thrived in her profession, donning her goggles, and at her initial Olympics in Beijing (2008), she won her first Olympic bronze medals when she was only 16 years old.
Over the next three Games, she graced the dais frequently, snaring four gold medals and a silver.
Read More
- ZEX PREDICTION. ZEX cryptocurrency
- Adin Ross goes live with Donald Trump; Gives former US President a Cybertruck
- G PREDICTION. G cryptocurrency
- Max releases first look at upcoming horror series Welcome to Derry and The Last of Us season 2
- Kate Mulgrew says a Dal/Gwyn romance is right for Star Trek: Prodigy
- When does NASCAR return (and when are the Olympics finished)?
- SPEC PREDICTION. SPEC cryptocurrency
- August 8 Update Patch Notes
- House of the Dragon will end with season 4; season 3 will film early next year
- CRV PREDICTION. CRV cryptocurrency
2024-08-03 14:03