Cate Campbell is making a habit of breaking the women’s 100m freestyle Olympic record – she did it twice on Thursday on the way to outright favoritism for tomorrow’s gold medal swim-off.

Her standout performances – and Kyle Chalmers’ stellar win in the men’s 100m event today – also mean she is on-track to complete an Australian double not seen at an Olympics for more than 50 years.

If Campbell or, for that matter, her sister Bronte, wins the gold medal event in Rio tomorrow it will be the first time since the 1960 Rome Olympics that Australians have won both the men’s and women’s 100m events. (Swimming legends Dawn Fraser and John Devitt completed the double in Rome 56 years ago.)

No wonder Campbell was satisfied with her day’s work today, telling the Seven Network after the semi-final: “I’m happy with that.”

Who wouldn’t be? Campbell, who earlier swam a time of 52.78 seconds to claim the record in a heat, improved on her time in her semi-final.

The Queenslander took just 52.71 seconds to win on that occasion.

Campbell even slowed up at the end of the semi-final as Canadian Penny Oleksiak (52.72secs) went very close to pinching victory.

In further good news for the Campbell family, Cate’s younger sister, Bronte, qualified fifth-fastest for the final, after swimming 53.29 seconds.

Cate holds the world record of 52.06 seconds.

“I’m confident within myself,” Cate said after the race.

“I can’t control what everyone else does – it’s about executing good race plans, that’s what I did.

“I’m happy with that.

“I eased up [at the end]. I caught a glimmer out of the corner of my eye, the speedy Canadian was coming through. Wow.

“She is a young kid and swimming incredibly well.”

Cate said the fact she was swimming in the final with Bronte – and that the pair had won gold together – still had not sunk in.

The sisters played crucial roles in Australia’s victory in the women’s 4x100m freestyle relay victory on Sunday (AEST), the same event they also won in London.

“It hasn’t sunk in we are dual Olympic gold medallists,” she added.

“We are part owners of an Olympic moment. Team Campbell made up 50 per cent of that [relay] team [in London and Rio].

“It’s something we will be celebrating in a couple of days, once we have switched out of business mode.”

Cate Campbell is the favourite to win the women’s 50m freestyle final on Sunday (AEST) and she will also play a key role in Australia’s chances in the women’s 4x100m medley relay – taking place on the same day.