CATE CAMPBELL

Cate Campbell has history in her sights as she seeks to become the first Australian swimmer to compete at five Olympic Games.

Cate made her Olympic debut aged 16 at Beijing 2008 where she won bronze in the 50m freestyle and the 4x100m freestyle relay and since then she has claimed a further six medals including four relay golds.

After Tokyo she went travelling around Europe before committing to Paris 2024 and a record-breaking fifth voyage in the Olympic pool.

“I had a few questions to answer after Tokyo,” she told the Sydney Morning Herald.

“I’ve achieved a lot in the sport but my Olympic preparations have never quite been what I would like them to be. Paris is now the ultimate goal.”

Cate was born in Malawi, south-east Africa, followed two years later by sister Bronte, a double Olympic champion.

They swam in Lake Malawi which was also home to hippos and crocodiles.

When they moved to Australia it was Bronte who shone, but when she wore the medals she’d won at their first swimming carnival to the dinner table, it proved to be a tipping point.

Cate said: “I snapped and stole her medals and her trophy and hid them under my bed.”

“Not the most original hiding spot and they were soon found.”

“Mum sat me down and said ‘Bronte worked really hard for those. If you want what Bronte has you’re going to have to work for it’.”

“I decided a gold medal was a pretty cool thing and so I was going to work hard.”