Infotainment Factory: Campbell's bid for Olympic history takes a hit

Cate Campbell's plans to compete at the Paris 2024 Olympics have taken a hit after finishing equal fifth in a star-studded women's 100m freestyle final at the Australian Swimming Championships.

Campbell stated her intent to race in Paris last November before ramping up her training in the new year.

But in gauging her progress, Campbell has declared that she will not contest the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka later this year, regardless of how she performs at the trials in June.

Cate Campbell prepares to compete in the women's 100m freestyle event at the 2023 Australian Swimming Championships.

Instead, she will put all her effort towards a potential fifth appearance at an Olympic Games.

"Paris is the end goal," Campbell said.

"I'm doing everything in my power to be fit and ready to perform at my absolute best because it will be the last time I get in a swimming pool.

"I have this deep sense of knowing that working towards Paris is going to be the last time that I put together an Olympic preparation, that I will compete for my country if I qualify.

"The focus has very much shifted to ensuring that I'm at my absolute best for that."

Campbell faded in the final charge to the wall in the 100m event after turning in second place.

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Her time of 53.78 positioned her equal fifth alongside Madi Wilson.

Campbell will now head to Europe next month to compete on the Mare Nostrum tour before returning to Australia and appearing at trials.

She will then complete another training block in Brisbane with her coach Damien Jones, regardless of her performance in Fukuoka.

As a groundwork meet leading into the Games, Campbell is grateful to have been granted the breathing space to prepare in her own way.

"It almost makes me a bit emotional thinking of where I started in this sport 15 years ago and you had to every year, stand up and prove your worth and you were only valued for what you did in the pool," she said.

"I'm so grateful to Swimming Australia for how supportive they've been of me taking the time off, for their continued support of me coming back.

"They've allowed me to figure out what I think is best for myself and have recognised the contribution that I've made over many, many years.

"You wouldn't see athletes be able to take time off and come back - and so I feel that incredible privilege of getting to come back and getting to be around the sport for one last time."

Defending world and Commonwealth Games champion Mollie O'Callaghan (52.63) set the fastest time registered so far this year on her way to clinching the national title.

The 19-year-old narrowly out-touched training partner Shayna Jack (52.64) as the pair surged under the 53-second mark.

O'Callaghan celebrates victory with Shayna Jack after winning the women's 100m freestyle event at the 2023 Australian Swimming Championships.

Jack led for a majority of the race before O'Callaghan motored home from fourth place at the turn to steal victory with her last stroke.

In an indisputable showing of the nation's depth in the women's 100m freestyle event, Olympic champion Emma McKeon (53.22) was forced to settle for third, while Meg Harris (53.46) finished fourth.

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