If swimming were golf, Cate Campbell’s entire bag would be in the pond on the 16th, her membership card would be in tatters and she would have already broken a schooner over the bartop, before she even started downing it.
And why wouldn’t she? She’s in the form of her life, looked great at the 50-metre mark in the 100m freestyle with her sister Bronte by her side.
But by the time there was 25 metres to swim it was clear Cate and sister Bronte wouldn’t be getting gold. When they touched the wall, they didn’t even have a medal between them.
It was sad for Australian fans. But sometimes fans don’t get the concentrated emotion of the athlete, who’s worked for four years to ready themselves for one race.
And then it’s gone.
“I’ve always said I don’t need a gold medal to feel self-worth but that’s being tested right now.” That’s what Campbell said after the race, shattering the myth that the Olympics isn’t all about winning. This was her chance to show she was the best in the world.
She didn’t do it.
Now we can support her, tweet at her, love her, tell her she’ll win gold in the 50m. We can do all that. But it’s not about what we think. It’s about the athlete. The athlete doubts her reason for being, because inside her head four years has gone into that outcome, an outcome which wasn’t and will never be realised.
It’s a sobering reminder that the Games can be so wonderful for so many, but for the most competitive, elite athletes, silver, bronze, or an Olympic final will never be enough.
There are always going to be broken lockers. Cate Campbell’s locker might be one of those today.
A good amount of success came on the water that’s situated outside an air-conditioned venue.
Silver in the men’s quad sculls was a bright start to the sixth day of competition. Then Jess Fox stepped up to take bronze in the canoeing, despite a devastating penalty.
If it wasn’t clear already, the 100m freestyle didn’t go Cate Campbell’s way. She finished sixth, with Bronte Campbell in fourth. No medals there then.
There was a medal in the 200m backstroke, with Mitch Larkin finishing second to Ryan Murphy. In the 200m breaststroke, Taylor McKeown had a bright start but faded to finish sixth.
Marcus Fraser leads the field in the golf, while the Hockeyroos got up again, this time over Argentina. And our Opals beat Japan in a stirring comeback, Liz Cambage again the best on court.
Overall a disappointing day in the pool, but success elsewhere should leave Australians with some comfort.
Cameron McEvoy didn’t make it into the 50m freestyle final. He’s clearly struggling, as is Emily Seebohm, who gave no excuses after missing the final for the 200m backstroke.
So not too much to look forward to there.
The golf continues as does the rowing where Kim Brennan will scull for gold.
But the really big news is that the track cycling is well and truly here, as is the athletics. Although the athletics doesn’t hold too many chances for the Australians, watching what these guys and ladies can do is just great. So get around that, with action kicking off around 9 o’clock in the morning. The only medal at stake tomorrow is the women’s shot put. Still – fun!
The Boomers are also back on court against China, but at the early time of 3:15am. The USA play Serbia at the much more reasonable hour of 8am.
My talking point could be about reports of a failed doping test, the first of the Games, but I’ll ask the question of why our swimmers are not peaking at the Olympics.
Roarer Spruce Moose, an avid follower of the swimming, made this exceptionally insightful comment on our Day 6 live blog:
“The question that needs to be answered is why key swimmers have failed to perform anywhere close to their PBs on the big stage. Horton, Chalmers and Groves are the only ones who have better their PBs at the games.
“It’s not necessarily about winning gold, but performing to times near their peak.
“Cate Campbell swam a time 1.2 seconds outside her PB. Seebohm, a second outside. Larkin a second outside. McEvoy a second 1.2 seconds outside.
“They are the deeply concerning issues that need to be addressed. Why have only a handful of Australian swimmers bettered their pre-Olympics PBs? Training programs are tailored to peak exactly at this time. For some reason, Australians training plans haven’t worked.”
I don’t know if I could say this any better, which is why I’ve quoted him, but the point is that Mack Horton and Kyle Chalmers are only Australians to have peaked at the Games.
Madeline Groves was also excellent, though failed to capitalise in the 200m butterfly final.
If Emily Seebohm and Mitch Larkin can come into the Games as such strong favourites, shouldn’t they be peaking? I’m not suggesting this is the fault of the swimmers necessarily, but could it be that other countries’ programs have the edge when it comes to preparing for the Games?
Let’s be honest, in many sports’ fans minds this is the only time they see these guys.
It’s a worthy question.
What did you make of the swimming Roarers? And how about that ping pong? Those guys can play!
What tickled your fancy on Day 6?
cowcorner
Roar Pro
I really do not like the term choking. Its used against top sports people and often by mere mortals like me who have never achieved any level of greatness in sport and probably have no concept of the pressure of carrying the hopes of a nation and then being expected to execute perfectly, otherwise they get hit with the "choker" tag suggesting some sort of mental deficiency. Just to get to the level of the Olympics requires huge effort , determination and mental toughness and I do not think it is fair to cheapen their efforts with the put-down "choker".
Moose
Guest
Haha Geoff how wrong you can be! Cate just choked in the 50 too and admitted herself on live tv she CHOKED. Stfu if you don't think athletes think they don't choke haha
Timbo
Guest
'Aussie swimmers have excelled from 2013 to mid 2016, but come Aug 2016 too many of them have gone off the boil when it really mattered.' You mean they're great until the real pressure comes on then they fold like a cheap suit?
Broken-hearted Toy
Guest
"The anguish in the voice of the ABC commentators seemed to reflect the anguish that the sisters must have been experiencing themselves" This is what I hate about modern 'commentary'. It's not commentary, it's cheerleading.
IKnowEverything
Guest
I can't help but think that Aussie swim coaches, still in 2016, don't get the swimmer's taper right for the Olympics. London was an unforgivable shambles for the swim team & thank God management of the team seems to be much better since then. Aussie swimmers have excelled from 2013 to mid 2016, but come Aug 2016 too many of them have gone off the boil when it really mattered. I think the coaches haven't tapered the swimmers to peak for 1 week in mid August 2016, in too many cases the swimmers peaked in 2015. The Yanks seem to do a better job of preparing their swimmers for the Big Event (the Olympics).
Melvin Pukely
Guest
I believe that she was too slow. Just an observation.
Melvin Pukely
Guest
Meddled ? I believe that the correct spelling is 'm-e-d-a-l-l-e-d'.
Squizz
Guest
My initial question would not be for the swimmers - but the coaches. There have been a number of what are perceived as gold medal favourites that have missed the start, led at the turn and have faded, many missing medals, others missing gold. Have our coaches instilled in them a fear of breaking to the extent that they dwell on the blocks? Once they have done that they seem to panic and go out too hard before fading.
Mike Huber
Roar Pro
Andrew Like yourself I lived in Bitiain for a long time , London 13 years . There is a new found optimism in Britain about Olympic sports . After the incredible success of London , Westminister will continue to heavily fund athletes , although the Brit Exit has thrown a spanner into the works . The Brits , especially the English , will continue get to stronger and not fade away in the coming years . Because of London they have developed a portfolio of performance plans which work in lots of sports - they will continue to build on and continue to pass Australia.
Hansie
Guest
Bingo.
northerner
Guest
Nonsense. Are you saying that only the Australians have accommodation issues? You've personally checked out how the Canadians, Japanese, Italians, Hungarians, Swedes and everyone else who happens to have finished ahead of Australians is accommodated? And the rugby gals, young Messrs Horton and Chalmers, are living somewhere else than the village?
BrainsTrust
Guest
There were 12 buildings that were passed out of 31 and the British got one of them. "the British team, which is staying in one of the 12 finished buildings, said it has faced relatively few inconveniences. Team GB said there had been minor plumbing and electricity issues, but nothing that created a sense of vulnerability. “We’re in a much better place than other people,” spokesman Scott Field said." " Australia obviously got building 31 on the list.
Geoff
Guest
It's a cheap comment made by an ignorant fan. "Choking" means very little to professional sportspeople, there are a vast number of variables that are more likely to contribute to a result than this simplistic and pegorative term usually used to insult an athelete without foundation. You counted 4-5 medal chokes? What arrogant nonsense. You have no idea what goes into producing the performances that win medals, your opinion isn't worth the 1's and 0's used to make it visible here.
Timbo
Guest
Australia only got 7 Golds in London (8 if you count the later award after a drugs case).
Let The One King Rule
Guest
Don't really have an issue with it. Nothing wrong with patriotism but why the need to demand it of other people? If they want to focus their support entirely on their family and don't care tuppence for the rest of the national team let them.
Let The One King Rule
Guest
As a Canuck living in Aus, this is hardly fair. Fiji were favorites in the 7s and would have been favored to beat anyone, and successive RWC triumphs kinda puts paid to any prior failures.
Matt
Guest
Yes but at least Cate has swam fast at this meet,McEvoy has been slow all week. Don't write Cate off just yet,I think she will medal in the 50.
Brendon
Guest
They're fabulous swimmers who have proven they can swim top times and win big races but choked in the final of the Olympics.
Brendon
Guest
Yes, 2000 and 2004 weren't anywhere near as bad as now but there wer signs that when the pressure and expectations were on Australian swimers cracked under pressure. Liesel Jones for all her world records and world championships walked away from swimming with 1 individual gold. Same with Libby Trickett. in 2000 Susan O'Neill got beaten by Misty Hyman. Thorpe by Hoogenband. Remember Klim v Huegill and Lars Frolander came along and won? 2004 was our best with 7 gold. Jones and Trickett were young but you'd expect one of them should have been able to grab an individual gold. To be fair 2/3 Trickett's events went to Australians anyway (100m free to Henry and 100m fly to Thomas). The mens 4x200m free should have won losing a close one to the USA. 2008 men got no golds. Jones and Trickett one gold each. Jones even forgot to breath while Rebecca Soni demolished her. Cate Campbell is at her third Olympics. The only time she has meddled in individual events is bronze in the 50m free in 2008 as a 16 year old.
Andrew
Guest
The Brits are indeed leaders in sport science - which includes strength and conditioning, performance analysis, teaching and coaching, sports psychology - and they also have had some of the leading coaches, such as Australian Shane Sutton in the cycling (since sacked I think, but not before he did some good things for their performance). Plus lots of funding in the lead up to London 2012. They will indeed overtake (possibly in the next 24 hrs) on the medal table and finish some distance ahead of Australia. Many of their stars however were also the stars of London, and have ridden on the back of the funding - Jason Kenny, Laura Trott, Jessica Ennis, Mo Farah, Stannard and Glover in the rowing, Nicola Adams in the boxing, David Florence in canoeing. I don't see many new stars coming through for them (Adam Peaty is a notable exception), so I think they'll begin to fall in Tokyo and thereafter. Having lived in Britain for over a decade until last year, I can tell you that they don't care about beating Australia in the Olympics, it's not something they think about. Cricket yes, rugby yes, but not the Olympics. So don't worry about them gloating about it. They do care about doing well in the Olympics, they just don't care about who they beat, including Australia.