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Cate Campbell (centre) celebrates with Bronte Campbell (left) Emma McKeon in 2014. Photo: AP

World on notice: Australian Cate Campbell breaks 100 metres women’s freestyle world record

The 24-year-old clocked 52.06 seconds at a meet in Brisbane to break the mark of 52.07 set by German Britta Steffen in 2009

Australia’s Cate Campbell broke the long-standing women’s 100 metres freestyle world record on Saturday at a meet in Brisbane in an ominous warning to her rivals ahead of the Rio Olympic Games.

“We present your new world record holder in the 100 free,” tweeted the Australian Swim Team, confirming the 52.06 seconds swim which eclipsed German Britta Steffen’s old mark of 52.07 seconds set in Rome in 2009 during the full body super suit era.

Campbell, 24, had “put the world on notice” at the Brisbane Grand Prix, it added, with Australian swim great Dawn Fraser poolside to witness the new record.

She had already notched an impressive win over her sister Bronte, the reigning world 100 metres freestyle champion, in the 50 metres freestyle on Friday.

“I still can’t believe it’s happened,” Campbell told reporters after her win.

“People have been asking me when I was going to break the world record for the last three years and honestly it wasn’t really on my mind but every time I got in the pool, it was like will they stop asking me this question now. Now you will.”

In April, Cate had edged her sister to win an epic 100 metres freestyle final at the Australian Championships and Olympic trials in Adelaide.

The Campbell sisters headline a 34-strong Australian swim team heading to Rio, with several ranked world number one on current form.

Cate (right) and Bronte Campbell in 2014.

A strong showing in Brazil would be a major turnaround for the squad, which produced just one gold at the 2012 London Olympics in a campaign marred by ill-discipline, drug use and drunkenness.

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