Cate Campbell went out under world-record pace before fading while Bronte had to settle for fourth. Canada’s Penelope Oleksiak, who won a 100 butterfly silver on Sunday and a 4×100 freestyle relay bronze on the opening day, was second fastest in 52.72 with Simone Manuel of the United States third in 53.11.
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With two days left of swimming and only Mack Horton in the 1500m as a genuine chance for gold, Australia’s top five chances will have to rely on a few more favourites in rowing and sailing and plenty of surprises.
“I have always said that I didn’t need a gold medal to have self-worth”. “I think I can go faster”.
Campbell placed sixth with a time of 53.24 seconds, having been heavily favoured to win the gold medal following her stellar 2016 form.
“I guess the silver lining is the learning curve. about handling pressure”, he said.
World record holder Cate and her world champion sister Bronte were drawn in separate semis as they prepared to write another chapter in their unusual rivalry, just days after winning 4 x 100m freestyle relay gold together.
Bronte Campbell said she and her sister didn’t have “anything to be ashamed of” despite their failure to miss medals. “Going into tonight to be honest all I wanted was to stand on the podium”.
“All my hard work has paid off and I am really happy about it”. Her time of 2:22.43 was slower than her semi-final swim as Japan’s Rie Kaneto swam 2:20.30 to claim gold.
“I said to my coach before I left, I have already won [because] I get to swim in an Olympic final with my sister”, she said.
It was a deflating night at the pool for the Australians, with Larkin’s girlfriend and dual world champion Emily Seebohm crashing out of the 200m backstroke semis, days after finishing second-last in the 100m final.
Bronte was fifth-quickest, setting the Aussies up for a red-hot chance of multiple medals in the final.
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Cate Campbell’s imagination got the better of her and so did Australia’s. That’s sport. That’s the Olympics. Listen and get insight into how each of the Campbells may be approaching their race tonight, then sit back and watch the flames flare up tonight in Rio.
