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Swimming star Bronte Campbell has returned to winning ways at the Australian short course championships as she sets her sights on competing at a fourth Olympic Games.
- Bronte Campbell is aiming to compete at four Olympic Games
- Campbell won in a time of 52.39 seconds, almost two seconds clear of second place
- Cody Simpson won his first national short course title in the men's 100 metres freestyle
The double Olympic champ led from first stroke to the last in the 100 metres freestyle at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre on Thursday night, winning in 52.39 seconds.
The five-time world champion Campbell, who will also contest the 50m, outpaced runner-up Sydney Brown (54.17) and third-placed Sarah Locke (54.98).
The 29-year-old Campbell was left thanking the crowd, telling them: "I'm so proud to be here … and see this next generation come through.
"I'm just enjoying being back in this pool where I've had so many great memories.
"As a little kid it was never about winning Olympic gold, it was about wearing the green and gold.
"The thought of going to four Games is way bigger than I could have ever dreamt."
Cody Simpson broke through for his first national short course title, winning the 100m freestyle in 47.85, with Tomas Kapocius second (47.94) and Joel Ivory third (48.16).
Defending individual medley title holder Kayla Hardy, who is also coached by Campbell's mentor Shannon Rollason, won the 400m event in 4 minutes 35.64 seconds ahead of Lucy Dring (4:39.06) and Emily White (4:43.97).
Fresh from his world record in the S14 multi-class 200m, Jack Ireland also won the multi-class 50m freestyle.
In the women's 200m backstroke, a fast-finishing Abbey Webb (2:07.61) pipped Adriana Fydler (2:07.80), daughter of Olympic gold medallist Chris.
AAP
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