Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte declared United States swimming as ‘dead.’ They both shared the same image and called for change after a disappointing early showing by Team USA at the World Championships.
However, their criticism has created some frustration amongst active members of the organization.
Gretchen Walsh fired back at the American swimming legends! She wants to remind them that not everything is perfect behind the scenes, even though the United States is still winning the medal table.
Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte call for change.
As of this writing, Team USA currently holds a nine-medal lead over Australia at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore with one more gold medal, seven more silvers and one more bronze. That lead was already in place when Phelps and Lochte expressed their frustrations on Instagram.
Their declaration of death primarily stems from a disappointing showing in the relays. The American team did not win a single gold medal through the first five relays of the meet. It won two silvers and one bronze with one fourth-place finish. The mixed 400 medley team also missed the final.
Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte are not necessarily attacking the swimmers themselves. Rather, they want to see Team USA implement change from the top down.
Still, though, the swimmers are not pleased with their assessment.
Gretchen Walsh clapped back.
Walsh, 22, won a gold medal in the 100-meter butterfly and 50-meter butterfly. She did not appreciate what Lochte and Phelps had to say. She felt “fragile” before her first race of the week.
“We’ve been dealing with a lot so it’s hard to get the criticism in the first place because I don’t think people quite understand the magnitude of everything going on behind the scenes,” Walsh said. “It’s frustrating, but I think that I’m personally just trying to block it out and take on the meet with everything I can and just show up and race like I know how.”
The “overwhelming majority” of Team USA was ravaged by a bad case of acute gastroenteritis during its pre-championships camp in Thailand. Most of the swimmers are dealing with the lingering health issues. Some of them, including Walsh, were forced to withdraw from certain events.
They are not at full health.
The legends don’t care.
Phelps and Lochte understand the impact of illness. It is not a secret.
They clearly do not excuse the results.
Team USA is going to win the overall medal count in Singapore. The group needs a big finish to the World Championships meet to match or exceed the 28-medal total from Paris, which was the lowest American output at the Olympics in 20 years. Australia might also win the most golds.
Back-to-back showings of this caliber on the world level will not be excused by two of the greatest U.S. swimmers of all-time. Illness does not change their opinion.