‘Suckas’: America mocks Australia, gets last laugh in swimming war of words
Australia’s swimming team is licking their wounds after the USA ripped Olympic history from their grasp, as American fans delight in our pain.
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That one hurts.
America has once again been crowned the king of the pool after leapfrogging Australia on the medal tally on the final day of action on Monday morning (AEST).
It took until the very last race of the swimming program for the USA to edge in front.
The USA claimed two golds in world record times — Bobby Finke broke Sun Yang’s longstanding 1500m world record and the women’s 4x100m medley relay triumphed.
Australia picked up two silvers in the women’s medley relay and Meg Harris, who flew home in less than 24 seconds in the 50m freestyle.
But the results meant America finished on top with eight gold medals to Australia’s seven.
Australia finished with seven gold, eight silver and three bronze. The USA had eight gold, 13 silver and seven bronze.
Ultimately the medley relays were the difference — the USA won the women’s and mixed medley relays and the Australia finished sixth in the men’s medley.
Australia’s seven gold came in the women’s 4x100m and 4x200m freestyle relay, Ariarne Titmus in the 400m freestyle, Mollie O’Callaghan in the 200m freestyle, Kaylee McKeown in the 100m and 200m backstroke and Cam McEvoy in the 50m freestyle.
The difference in depth in the form strokes (butterfly, backstroke and breaststroke) between the two countries was stark — McKeown claimed Australia’s only non-freestyle golds.
Cate Campbell famously joked the Americans were “sore losers” for refusing to accept they were beaten at last year’s swimming world titles with some medal tally shenanigans that have been repeated at the Paris Olympics.
The rivalry went up a notch when Karl Stefanovic called Michael Phelps an “absolute tosser”.
The US legend was left seething when he saw footage of Campbell slamming the American ritual of banging a cowbell loudly when their swimmers come out behind the blocks.
With several generational swimmers on the team at the same time, there had been hopes Australia could finally knock the Yanks off their perch for the first time since 1956.
At one stage it looked like history was on the cards as Australia took an early lead on the medal tally, taking America to breaking point.
But it was a case of close but no cigar, and Campbell was reminded of her comments on Monday.
“We always said it was going to be tough, but I always look at the positive,” Campbell said on Nine.
“If we look back to our past Olympics the difference in gold medals between Australia and the US in 2012 was 1, in 2016 it went to 13. Tokyo 2021 it was two, now we’re one (behind).
“They field a bigger team. They have more depth in more events. They also come from a country of 330 million we come from a country of 27 million. I think it’s very, very fair to say we pull well and above our weight. I will say that while this rivalry is incredibly fierce, it’s also incredibly respectful.
“I think the greatest example of that is Katie Ledecky and Ariarne Titmus. They are fierce, competitors and for a long time Katie was on top.
“She was dominating and Arnie was chasing and she was hungry and wanted to get her and she pipped her in the post in the 400 freestyle, not once but twice.
“But the respect there, and the way they talk about this rivalry is driving them to be better, to get the best out of themselves.”
It was an interesting meet for the USA. Katie Ledecky won two individual golds but with Caeleb Dressel below his best, the absence of a Phelps-esque male superstar was evidenct.
There’s no doubt the rest of the swimming world is catching up to America in the pool — Leon Marchand claimed four golds for France and Summer McIntosh won three golds for Canada.
But the sight of a seriously fired up Katie Ledecky cheering Finke home to gold in the 1500m freestyle while wielding a cowbell says everything you need to know about America’s insatiable lust for dominance.
One Eurosport commentator said: “The most dominant team in world sport, across any sport, anywhere, is the United States swim team.”
Sports Illustrated’s Pat Forde wrote: “After losing the gold-medal tally 13-7 to the Aussies at World Championships last year, that’s at least one embarrassment reversed. Barely.”
American host Katie Mox said: “Ring those cowbells, sorry Aussies but the USA dominates the pool/podium yet again!”
“Haw haw Australia,” said one patriotic American on X.
“The US is now beating you in GOLD MEDAL count too, suckas. Australia has a one sided beef going on with the US this whole time and we’ve just found out about it. I thought swimming was your thing, Oz!”
One fan wrote on social media: “RING THAT COWBELL!!! Go USA Swimming!!! What a way to cap off the swimming! Have a nice plane ride home, Australia!”
A second said: “Looks like Australia taking ANOTHER L in the Olympics to the USA swim team.”
A third added: “Australians getting ready for the per capita excuse.”
“Probably one of the worst Olympics for USA swimming and we still got more golds than Australia,” said another.
The anti-Australia sentiment kept on coming. Another said: “Sorry Aussies, but you are going to hear one more star-spangled banner. Americans win the gold medal total in the pool!”
No nation has knocked America off the top of the swimming medal at the Olympics since Melbourne 1956 — a winning streak that’s been likened to the America’s Cup.
Australia has come out on top at world championships in 2001 and 2023, but the 68-year Olympic drought will continue.
But one iconic American streak was broken. China won the men’s medley relay, as the USA were beaten in that event for the first time in Olympic history.
America will be tough to beat once again at the next Olympics in Los Angeles in 2024, with host nations traditionally performing well across all sports.
“That’s tough,” Campbell said.
“It’s going to be in their home country and their home stadium. It will be in the biggest swimming stadium that we’ve ever seen, they’re purpose-building it in a massive football stadium.”
Originally published as ‘Suckas’: America mocks Australia, gets last laugh in swimming war of words
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