An Aussie swim streak has exploded, with the country’s top female swimmer hitting back at Olympic great Cate Campbell.
Campbell branded the US swim team “sore losers” after the Aussies dominated at the World Championships last week, breaking records on an exceptional trip to Japan.
However, Kaylee McKeown has insisted that Campbell was not speaking for the Australian team in her scathing criticism of the US.
“The rivalry between Swimming Australia and the US team has been like this for decades, it’s nothing new,” said McKeown. News Corp.
“However, in saying that I think there is a right way and a wrong way to say things and that Cate is entitled to her opinion, but I just want the US to know that she is not speaking for the entire Australian team.”
Kaylee McKeown hit back at Cate Campbell as an Australian swim row broke out
The Olympic great labeled the US team as ‘sore losers’ after the World Cup
The 22-year-old won three gold and two silver medals in Japan, adding that her teammates were not impressed by Campbell’s comments.
“She (Campbell) wasn’t in Japan and so for her to make those comments, it makes us athletes, not bad, but we don’t think what she said,” McKeown explained.
“We weren’t too impressed that she had her two cents to put in.”
Campbell struck out to the USA team after they attempted to claim victory in the overall standings as they won the most number of medals, although Australia had the most gold medals with 13. The Aussies also broke four world records.
“What a sore loser,” Campbell said on the Today show.
“I mean, Australia coming out on top in the world is one thing, but it’s just so much more fun to beat America.
“We didn’t have to hear ‘Star Spangled Banner’ blaring through the stadium the first night of the game. I can’t tell you how happy that made me.
“If I hear that song one more time, it’s too soon. Long live Paris. That’s all I have to say to the US. Stop being sore losers.”
Australia captured 13 gold, seven silver and five bronze medals in Fukuoka
Australia captured 13 gold, seven silver and five bronze medals in Fukuoka – the total of 25 is the country’s record at a single world title.
And the gold haul equals Australia’s best-ever return to the world, in the 2005 and 2001 editions.
Swimming Australia head coach Rohan Taylor was baffled by the US claiming the team award presented by the sport’s governing body, World Aquatics.
The Americans won seven gold medals of their 38 medals, the most of any nation.
“The way the award is given is on the total number of medals, that’s the award,” Taylor said.
“We (Australia) have always looked at it, and I was raised through the Don Talbot era, that gold medals were the most important thing.
“So from our perspective, we were the best performing team in terms of gold medals.
“And if you look at the website and you look at the medal mirror, we’re on top of that.
‘That’s how I feel. But I’m not taking anything from the US and they won the award based on the criteria that were there.’
US team members posed with the best team trophy at the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka despite being blown out of the water by the Australian team
Australian sensation Mollie O’Callaghan departs Fukuoka with five gold medals – the most of any swimmer on the meet – and one silver.
Ian Thorpe (six golds at Fukuoka in 2001) holds the Australian record for most gold medals in a single world championship.
O’Callaghan also featured in three of Australia’s four world records in Fukuoka.
“It’s what you’d hope would happen with a new exposure to this level of encounter,” Taylor said.
“The ability to lean back on the work done, the support team who really put a lot into that preparation, not just tackling the physical, but how they bring it psychologically.
“And here it was put to the test and she really could.”
McKeown was crowned Female Swimmer of the Year after winning all three gold medals in the 50 m, 100 m and 200 medal races of her pet stroke.
“I have teammates like Ariarne Titmus and Mollie O’Callaghan who broke world records this week,” said McKeown.
As proud as I am, I feel I have to share that (award) with my teammates.
‘I never thought in a million years that I would become swimmer of the year. But it’s pretty cool.”