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Aussie swimmer Cate Campbell isn’t backing off of her trash talk toward Team USA, even despite the fact that she failed to qualify for the 2024 Summer Olympics.
Campbell, an eight-time Olympic medalist and four-time gold medalist, went viral recently when a video resurfaced of her criticising Team USA at the 2023 World Championships.
“Australia coming out on top is one thing, but it is just so much sweeter beating America. There were a couple of nights, particularly the first night of competition, where we did not have to hear the ‘Star Spangled Banner’ ring out through the stadium and I cannot tell you how happy that made me,” Campbell said in August 2023. “If I never hear that song again it will be too soon. Bring on Paris, that’s all I have to say. U.S., stop being sore losers.
“When we’re right next to each other in the warm-up area, the U.S. has this infernal cowbell that they ring, and as someone leaves to go to the competition pool, they ring out ‘U-S-A, U-S-A’ and I have never wanted to punch someone more and steal that cowbell,” she added.
Those comments drew a legendary response from Michael Phelps, who made sure to make his feelings on the matter extremely clear.
“I appreciate your comments Cate. (If) somebody said that to me, I would lose it. I would literally make them eat every word they just said about me. ‘Cause people have done it,” Phelps said. “Chad Le Clos? Thorpe? You guys have all talked s— about me and I had the last laugh. So for the Americans, if you see what I just saw … I would watch that thing every single day to give me that little extra bit of oomph … I hope we bang that cowbell louder than we ever have this summer.”
Aussie Swimmer Cate Campbell Isn’t Backing Off Comments Despite Missing Olympics
Here’s where things get fun.
Campbell won’t actually be in Paris for the 2024 Summer Olympics. At least, not in a competitive capacity. The 32-year-old finished in seventh place in the 50-meter freestyle at the 2024 Australian trials, missing the team by a mile.
“It’s bitter-sweet,” Campbell told Channel 9 following the trials. “I had hoped for the fairytale ending and it’s what I had worked for and what I felt I was capable of, and unfortunately my body just said, ‘No.’ “
But that hasn’t stopped her from continuing to talk trash.
Campbell joined Australia’s Today Show recently and wasn’t in the mood to walk back her comments.
“It is always on between Australia and the U.S.,” Campbell said. “It’s a little bit of a David vs. Goliath story … so it is so satisfying when we can get up over the big dogs.”
Australia is a swimming powerhouse. There’s no doubt about that. But come Paris, the U.S. might need to remind them who the final boss is in this game.