Australian swimmers aiming to beat US and top medal tally for first time since 1956

AUSTRALIA is ready to smash the Americans like guitars. But it’s not just one relay team that the Dolphins have in their sights.

The Australian 4x100m relay team (l-r) Chris Fydler, Ashley Callus, Michael Klim and Ian Thorpe celebrate winning gold at the Sydney Olympics in 2000 after the US claimed before the race they would ‘smash the Australians like guitars.’

AUSTRALIA is ready to smash the Americans like guitars. But it’s not just one relay team that the Dolphins have in their sights, it’s the entire medal tally victory that has eluded Australia since 1956.

Already hailed as a “special group” by their head coach, this Australian team will attempt to become a historic Dolphins outfit at the Rio Olympic Games starting Saturday by taking down pool powerhouses USA and win the medal tally for the first time in 60 years.

For decades the Australian and USA rivalry has been a major talking point of swimming competition, the Dolphins claimed bragging rights at the 2001 world titles but for most of the last 14 years it’s been a rather lopsided duel.

Australia claimed a moral victory by beating USA in the “Olympic-event” medal tally at the world titles in Kazan, but it was by no means an official win and the Dolphins have the Americans in their sights in Rio.

The Australian 4x100m relay team (l-r) Chris Fydler, Ashley Callus, Michael Klim and Ian Thorpe celebrate winning gold at they Sydney Olympics in 2000 after the US claimed before the race they would ‘smash the Australians like guitars.’

“It’s definitely a special group. All you see here are world champions,” head coach Jacco Verhaeren said at the official team press conference flanked by Cate Campbell, Bronte Campbell, Cameron McEvoy, Emily Seebohm and Mitch Larkin.

“But we have to see, this is the Olympics and everybody starts at zero again and that is the approach we are really taking.

“It doesn’t matter how good you are, you need to get it together on the day here. That is really what we’re focusing on. Not what might happen or might not happen.

“I don’t think we are here to make up for any disappointments, we are here to do our very best and we have prepared well to do that.

“Nobody is thinking about what might happen or might not happen.

“Everybody is living in the moment.”

At the last Olympics in London the United States, led by Michael Phelps and Missy Franklin, owned the pool winning 16 of 34 gold medals while Australia could manage just one gold to fall all the way to seventh on the swimming medal tally.

It’s why the US team can walk onto the pool deck full of swagger and confidence.

“They are a powerhouse and you can definitely feel their presence in the pool,” world No.1 100m freestyler Cameron McEvoy said.

“It’s always special to stand up against the Americans … you get the adrenaline pumping and it brings a lot to the sport.”

Now it’s the Aussies who are set to sweep all before them. Medal predictions range from the outrageous 11 gold by US sports magazine Sports Illustrated to just six gold by Associated Press.

The Aussies won’t entertain medal talk, it only inflates expectations.

CLICK HERE

“I don’t think anyone has a higher expectation of themselves than themselves. I know that for myself no one is going to be more upset if I don’t perform than myself,” world record holder Cate Campbell said.

“And no one is going to be more happy if I perform than myself.

“I can’t speak for anyone else on the team but it’s a very individual and very selfish sport and I’ve kind of had to just shrug off all the other expectations because in the end it is down to me and the rest of it doesn’t matter.”

All the Aussies agreed though the desire to beat USA runs strong through the team and has brought out their best.

“Over the years we’ve had a healthy rivalry with the USA. I know that we’ve pushed them and they’ve pushed us,” Campbell said.

“I don’t think America would be where they are today without Australia and I could say the same for Australia that America has pushed us to be a great swimming nation as well.”