SYDNEY SPRINTS: Bronte Campbell Headlines Tokyo Connection At Australian Short Course
Tokyo Olympians Bronte Campbell, Madeleine Gough, Tamsin Cook and David Morganwill headline the 2023 Australian Short Course Championships – the Sydney Sprints – when the four-day meet gets under way at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre today.
All eyes will be on 29-year-old three-time Olympian and two-time relay golden girl Campbell (Cruiz, ACT) as she continues her journey in quest of a fourth Olympics in Paris next year when she kicks off her campaign tomorrow in the 100m freestyle.
Campbell will be joined by Rio and Tokyo teammate, 4x200m freestyle silver and bronze medallist, Tamsin Cook (Melbourne Vicente, VIC), who will contest the 100, 200 and 400m freestyles after winning the treble in the Victorian State SC Championships.
Teenagers Sydney Brown (Wests Illawarra, NSW) and Emma Doherty (Bond Swimming, QLD) will be among the challengers in both the 100m and 50m on day four.
Campbell won the sprint double at the NSW State Championships beating Brown in both while Doherty was a standout at the 2023 Hancock Prospecting QLD State Championships – winning five events, including the 50 and 100m freestyles.
Doherty, 18, swims with the emerging women’s group at Bond Swimming that includes World Junior gold and silver medallist Milla Jansen and Commonwealth Youth Games gold medallist Mikayla Bird, under Olympic gold medal coach Chris Mooney.
Gough (Carlile Swimming, NSW) comes into the meet hot on the heels of her wins over 400, 800 and 1500m freestyle at the NSW State Championships and kick-starts her program today in the 1500m freestyle.
While 29-year-old Rio and Tokyo butterflyer Morgan (Surfers Paradise, QLD) will also be from his wins in the 50m freestyle and 100m butterfly at the 2023 Queensland SC States.
An outstanding short course exponent, Morgan was one of Australia’s stars, winning four medals at the 2016 World SC Championships in Windsor, Canada including bronze medals in the 50 and 100m butterfly.
The men’s sprint butterflies will take on particular interest with Cody Simpson (Griffith University, QLD) joined by Sydney pair Shaun Champion (Abbotsleigh, NSW) and Alex Quach (SOPAC, NSW), with the 50m butterfly today opening proceedings.