- Michael Phelps has hit back at Cate Campbell’s comments
- Campbell basked in Australia beating the US at the world championships
- Australia and the US are about to clash in the Paris swimming pool
Michael Phelps has lit the fuse for an almighty battle between Team USA and Australia at the Paris Olympics after the swimming legend responded to Cate Campbell’s infamous ‘sore losers’ jibe.
Australia defeated American rivals at last year’s world championships but were left upset when US broadcaster NBC changed their own medal chart to give overall medals priority over gold medals.
Their score put the US on top, despite Australia having a 13-to-seven superior gold medal.
Australian swimming star Campbell, who missed qualifying for Paris this week, targeted the Americans in an interview with Today after the world championships.
“I mean it’s one thing for Australia to come out on top in the world, but it’s so much more fun to beat America,” she said.
Michael Phelps has fallen out between Australia and the United States
Cate Campbell ignited a feud with the US after the world championships
‘The first night of the game we didn’t have to hear the ‘Star Spangled Banner’ blaring through the stadium. I can’t tell you how happy that made me.
‘If I hear that song again, it will be too soon.
‘Bring on Paris. That’s all I have to say to the US. Don’t be sore losers.’
US breaststroker Lily King responded to Campbell’s comments at the time, saying: ‘Sorry, we’re not that tense, we can’t cheer on our teammates as they walk out of events. See you in Paris.’
As the U.S. team began their tryout this week, King and Phelps were shown the clip as NBC ramped up the rivalry.
And a surprised Phelps revealed what he would do as an athlete after seeing the clip.
‘Wow. That’s the first time I’ve seen that,” Phelps said.
“I looked at that every day, it gave me that little bit extra (motivation).”
Phelps says he would use the interview as motivation to beat the Aussies in Paris
King said, “I just think it’s funny that it gets on their nerves so much. That’s funny.
‘Is it worse if they hit us than someone else? Yes. I’m glad everyone is jealous of the pride we have for our country.
“We like each other, but we want to kill each other when we’re in the pool.”
Gold medalist Bobby Finke of Tokyo said: “That’s just worlds. These are the Olympic Games. This is the big game show.”
Australia has defeated the US twice at world championships, but has never managed to do so at an Olympic Games since Melbourne 1956.