- Swimmers among the first to compete in the race in Paris
- The one who will win the most medals for Australia
- AOC will kick them out of the athlete’s village after the events
Former world champion James Magnussen has criticised Australian Olympic officials for treating swimmers like “mercenaries” by removing them from the athletes’ village 48 hours after their final races.
Magnussen won gold, silver and bronze at the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games. He also won the title of world champion in the 100-meter freestyle in 2011 and 2013. Magnussen retired from competitive swimming in 2019.
He slammed the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) ahead of the Paris competition, where Australian swimmers are expected to win a host of gold medals.
The AOC angered the swimmers by telling them that they would only be allowed to stay in the village for 48 hours after the race, after which they would have to fly home or find their own accommodation in Paris.
In the first episode of the Matty and the Missile” podcast with Matty JohnsMagnussen was furious, saying the policy showed a blatant disregard for the sacrifices swimmers make and deprived them of the chance to celebrate their achievements in a proper way.
“I can only speak from a swimmer’s perspective,” he said in the podcast.
“I feel like this swim team is a hired gun. You come in late, no opening ceremony, straight to the swim, we expect seven to nine gold medals, you finish the meet and off you go.
“No closing ceremony, no Olympic life, you can’t fully enjoy the food hall and eat the things you want to. All those things that are the Olympic experience are gone.”
Australian swimmers ordered to leave athletes’ village 48 hours after their event
Olympic gold medalist James Magnussen said the AOC was too hard on swimmers by not letting them enjoy Olympic life
“Once they’re done with the game, they have 48 hours to get out of here,” Magnussen continued.
“If they want to pay for it themselves, they can stay in Paris and pay for it themselves and come back to Paris for the closing ceremony. There will be a bed for them for that night.”
‘I started thinking, ‘If Titmus does what I think she’s going to do, back to back Olympics, gold in the 200m and 400m, then she should be our (closing ceremony) flag bearer.’ I went to the press conference about swimming.
‘What (Australian chef de mission) Anna Meares has said is not special treatment, Ariarne will leave the village. She will not hedge her bets.
“If she is asked to carry the flag at the opening ceremony, it is up to her to return to the village and represent our country by carrying the flag.”
The Australian swimmers were also forced to skip the opening ceremony as they prepare for their events which begin tonight (AEST)
Magnussen is also the first athlete in the world to register for the Enhanced Games, founded by Australian entrepreneur Aron D’Souza.
The Australian swimmer will receive $1.5 million to take part in the competition, which not only allows but encourages the use of performance-enhancing drugs.
“I’ve kept myself in reasonable shape during my retirement,” Magnussen said earlier.
‘She [Enhanced Games] have said that they have a billion-dollar person behind them.
‘If they invest $1 million in the world record for the 50-meter freestyle, I’ll be their first athlete.
“I’m going all out and I’m going to break it in six months.”