The victory, in a time of 3:29:78, beats the previous record set at the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.

“Winning a third consecutive Olympic gold medal further cements Australia’s status as the dominant country in this event and we congratulate Bronte and Cate Campbell, Emma McKeon and debutant Meg Harris on making Australian sporting history,” Australian Institute of Sport CEO Peter Conde said.

“That was an inspiring swim and one that I’m sure will become part of Australian sporting folklore.

Mr Conde also commended Swimming Australia on its preparation for these Games under extremely challenging circumstances, and also congratulated Jack McLoughlin (silver) and Brendon Smith (bronze) on their medals.

“The AIS has a strong partnership with Swimming Australia across a wide range of areas, and as with other national sporting organisations, has worked closely with Swimming to manage the difficulties presented by the COVID pandemic and the postponed Games”.

AIS support is provided across a broad spectrum, from high performance funding to applied technology and innovation, people development and wellbeing and direct athlete grants.

“We are pleased to support members of this remarkable team through direct athlete grants, known as dAIS, as well as invest in the wider Dolphins squad through people development and wellbeing resources.

“Through Federal Government investment, the AIS provides $14 million per annum in dAIS grants, and in the lead up to Tokyo, this funding reached almost 70 per cent of athletes competing at the Olympic Games.”

Mr Conde added: “The lead-up to these Games has been anything but easy for our athletes. It has taken extraordinary resilience, adaptability and courage just to make it to Japan and I couldn’t be happier to see the Olympic dream come true for our four 4x100 relay swimmers. We are so very proud of you all.”

Today’s gold is the third overall for Cate Campbell. All three have come from the 4x100 freestyle relay meaning the Australian Olympic Flag Bearer has now joined Dawn Fraser in the history books as the only Australian swimmers to win a gold medal in the same event at three consecutive Olympic Games.

The 4x100 freestyle relay gold brings Australia’s medal tally to three after McLoughlin and Smith collected silver and bronze in the men's 400m freestyle and men's 400m individual medley respectively.