Swimming star Bronte Campbell has returned to winning ways at the Australian short course championships as she sets her sights on competing at a fourth Olympic Games.

The double Olympic champ led from first stroke to the last in the 100 metres freestyle at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre on Thursday night, winning in 52.39 seconds.

The five-time world champion Campbell, who will also contest the 50 metres, outpaced runner-up Sydney Brown (54.17) and third-placed Sarah Locke (54.98).

The 29-year-old Campbell was left thanking the crowd, telling them: “I’m so proud to be here … and see this next generation come through.

“I’m just enjoying being back in this pool where I’ve had so many great memories.

“As a little kid it was never about winning Olympic gold, it was about wearing the green and gold. And the thought of going to four Games is way bigger than I could have ever dreamt.”

Cody Simpson broke through for his first national short-course title, winning the 100-metre freestyle in 47.85, with Tomas Kapocius second (47.94) and Joel Ivory third (48.16).

Defending individual medley title holder Kayla Hardy, who’s also coached by Campbell’s mentor Shannon Rollason, won the 400-metre event in 4min 35.64sec ahead of Lucy Dring (4:39.06) and Emily White (4:43.97).

Fresh from his world record in the S14 multi-class 200 metres, Jack Ireland also won the multi-class 50m freestyle.

In the women’s 200-metres backstroke, a fast-finishing Abbey Webb (2:07.61) pipped Adriana Fydler (2:07.80), daughter of Olympic gold medallist Chris.