Australia's Cate Campbell won the women's 100m freestyle gold at the swimming world championships on Friday but US star Missy Franklin missed out on claiming a fifth medal. The 21-year-old Campbell earned her first major title when she clocked 52.34sec with Sweden's Sarah Sjostrom, the 100m butterfly world champion, at 0.55 back and Olympic champion Ranomi Kromowidjojo of Holland adrift at 1.08.
Having missed the event at the Olympics after suffering from gastroenteritis, Campbell burst into tears as she climbed out of the Palau Sant Jordi pool. "It didn't really sink in until I got out and heard all the Aussies screaming," said Campbell, who held a clear lead before fading in the last 10 metres. "I think if the race had lasted 110 metres, I wouldn't have got it." After James Magnussen defended his men's 100m freestyle world title on Thursday, Campbell's victory underlined Australia's prowess in the event.
"They are bringing in mixed relays for the next world championships so watch out world. The Aussies are back," beamed Campbell. The Queenslander had been on world-record pace and said she had not meant to get so close to Britta Steffen's record of 52.07sec. "No, I wasn't expecting a world record. I was trying not even to think about that," said Campbell.
"Maybe in the next few years I will set my sights on that but at the moment I am just enjoying where I am. "It's strange to strive your whole life for something and then achieve it in under a minute." The 19-year-old Sjostrom, who won Monday's 100m butterfly final, was delighted with her silver. "It was amazing to be in a world 100m final, it was my first time (in this event) and it was amazing just to be racing the likes of Ranomi and Missy," said Sjostrom. Having already collected four golds in Barcelona, Franklin could only finish fourth at 1.13 back, while Germany's Steffen finished sixth.
"Of all my events, the 100m freestyle is the one I have worked most on," said Franklin. "I was fifth in the London final (at the 2012 Olympics) and fourth tonight, so I am getting there." Franklin had no time to dwell on her defeat. Just 15 minutes after the freestyle final, the 18-year-old was back in the water as the fastest qualifier into Saturday's 100m backstroke final, her strongest event in which she is Olympic champion and world-record holder. Campbell and Kromowidjojo are amongst the favourites for Saturday's 50m freestyle final with the heats in the morning. "Knowing I have only half the distance to swim tomorrow makes it a lot better," grinned Campbell.