Aussie Cate smashes 100m free world record

SYDNEY: Australia’s Cate Campbell smashed the long-standing women’s 100m freestyle world record on Saturday at a meet in Brisbane, firing an ominous warning to her rivals ahead of the Rio Olympics.

“We present your new world record holder in the 100 free,” tweeted the Australian Swim Team, confirming the 52.06 seconds swim which eclipsed German Britta Steffen’s old mark of 52.07 set in Rome in 2009 during the high-tech supersuit era.

Campbell, 24, had “put the world on notice” at the Brisbane Grand Prix, it added, with Australian swim great Dawn Fraser poolside to witness the new record.

She had already notched an impressive win over her sister and main rival Bronte, the reigning world 100m freestyle champion, in the 50m freestyle on Friday.

Australian media reported that Campbell was the nation’s first individual world-record breaker since the drag-reducing, muscle-supporting polyurethane supersuit era.

The sport’s governing body FINA outlawed the suits in 2010 following a storm of criticism after world records tumbled at the 2009 world championships.

Campbell said she had not been aiming to be the fastest woman to swim 100 metres in the world, but was trying to remain relaxed and focused.

Campbell had shoulder surgery in late 2014 which left her not fully fit at last year’s world championships in Kazan.

But in April, Cate edged her sister to win an epic 100 metres freestyle final at the Australian Championships and Olympic trials in Adelaide.