One stood out so much that she has kept it for the two years since her London triumph in the 4 x 100 metre freestyle relay.

“Lots of people wrote to me and said: ‘Make Australia proud and win a gold medal’,” she said on a surprise visit to Albury yesterday.

She was here to meet the author of that special one, the one she now keeps in her jewellery box among her most prized possessions.

She found her — Bella Campbell, at the Albury Swim Centre.

“Bella’s letter just told me that Australia was proud of me, no matter what,” Cate said.

Bella’s words of inspiration still resonate with her.

“I have memorised one section — it’s quite profound for an 11-year-old,” she said.

Cate said she had told so many people about the letter that Uncle Tobys, her sponsor, had encouraged her to find Bella.

Having the same surname is not the only thing the pair shares.

Bella, 13, is a keen swimmer and plays waterpolo for the Pool Pirates’ under-14 team.

Bella’s mum, Liz had somehow managed to keep the secret when she dropped her off for waterpolo training yesterday.

“I saw Cate standing there and I thought I was dreaming,” Bella said.

“I had to check twice to make sure it was really her and then she pulled out the letter.”

After a brief chat and a photograph together, Bella was grinning from ear to ear.

“She’s a really cool person and she’s really funny,” Bella said.

Cate said the letter would always remain one of her treasures.

“I even took it to a couple of swimming meets, but I found water and paper don’t mix,” she said.