Olympics: Cate Campbell Underlines Favorite Status In 100m Free Semis

RIO DE JANEIRO,(APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Augst,2016) - Australia's Cate Campbell enhanced her status as the favorite in the women's 100m freestyle at the Rio Olympics on Wednesday by booking her place in the final as the fastest qualifier. Campbell broke the Olympic record in the morning heats then went even faster in the semi-finals, stopping the clock at 52.71 seconds, 0.65sec outside the world record she set last month, to top the eight qualifiers for Thursday's final. Campbell eased up over the final few meters and touched the wall just 0.01 ahead of 16-year-old Canadian Penny Oleksiak, who set a world junior record of 52.

72 to qualify second quickest. American Simone Manuel was third fastest after winning the first of the two semi-finals in 53.11, followed by Sweden's 100m butterfly gold medallist Sarah Sjostrom. Campbell's younger sister Bronte, the reigning world champion, qualified fifth while the London Olympic champion, Ranomi Kromowidjojo of the Netherlands was seventh. The Campbell sisters teamed up to help Australia win the 4x100m freestyle relay on Saturday and are both chasing their second gold medals in Rio.

Cate also won a relay gold in London four years ago.