Four-time Olympic swimming champion Cate Campbell has embarked on a new chapter in her sporting career by joining the leadership team of Sport Climbing Australia, the national governing body for the rapidly growing Olympic discipline. This marks Campbell’s first official return to the Olympic movement since retiring from competitive swimming ahead of the 2024 Paris Games.

Campbell, who has earned multiple gold medals throughout her decorated swimming career, accepted a position as a director with Sport Climbing Australia, a role that will allow her to apply insights gained from her experience in high-performance sport. The organization oversees climbing activities nationwide, with Queensland alone accounting for around 100,000 participants.

“I’m really excited,” Campbell said. “I can take some of the learnings I have had through my time in high performance and swimming, and take it into a younger Olympic sport which has actually been around for a long time and is on the lips of many Australians.”

Despite her enthusiasm, Campbell admits she remains a novice when it comes to climbing itself. She described the experience of physically scaling climbing walls as humbling, noting the intense precision required to maintain grip and avoid falling. “There is nothing so humbling as getting on a wall ... then being stuck because if you move even one finger you know you are about to fall off,” she said. “It is not my forte.”

Campbell’s interest in the sport was also influenced by her sister Jessica, who frequently participates in climbing activities. She highlighted the impressive agility displayed by speed climbers, likening their movements to “Spider-Man.”

The invitation to join the Sport Climbing Australia board came from Matt Horan, a fellow director and brother of former rugby union player Tim Horan. Campbell developed a connection with Matt seven years ago during her internship period with the Queensland Reds rugby team. She saw the directorship role as an opportunity not only to grow her own understanding of climbing but also to contribute knowledge from a well-established sport.

“I thought it would be a good way for me to learn and also pass on some learnings from a well-established sport which has good pathways and talent,” Campbell said, reflecting on her decision to accept the position.