Cate Campbell TOKYO, Japan — Australia’s Cate Campbell swam the second fastest time ever in the women’s 100-meter freestyle Friday to retain her Pan Pacific title and exorcise the ghosts of her Rio Olympics nightmare.

The former world champion, who famously flopped in the 2016 Olympic final as the red-hot favorite, clocked a lifetime best of 52.03 seconds with a blistering performance to take gold from American Simone Manuel and Canadian Taylor Ruck in Tokyo.

Manuel, who followed her gold medal in Rio by winning the world title last year, took silver in 52.66 and teenage sensation Taylor Ruck the bronze (52.72) a day after storming to victory in the 200 meters.

Campbell looked like eclipsing Sarah Sjostrom’s world record of 51.71, set at last year’s world championships, before wilting over the final few meters.

“I’m proud of myself — it shows I can stand up and perform when it counts, that I can execute under pressure,” said a defiant Campbell, who took a year off from swimming after slumping to sixth in that Olympic final.

“Moments like that reignite your love for the sport,” she added after going some way to shedding her tag as a major-league choker.

“I’ve come to peace with whatever the outcome is going to be. I know win or lose I can live with whatever the outcome is.

“Moments like that make all the sacrifices that you make on a daily basis worthwhile.”

Olympic champion Kyle Chalmers completed an Aussie double in swimming’s blue riband event as he upset new American superstar Caeleb Dressel in the men’s 100-meter freestyle.

AFPAgence France-Presse is an international news agency headquartered in Paris, France. Founded in 1835, AFP is the third largest news agency in the world, after the Associated Press and Reuters.