‘America are losing’: Australia put US in its place amid bitter reality

Australia’s swimmers have kicked off the Olympics in brilliant fashion but it’s much different for the US — unless you ask them.

Almost halfway through the swimming program in Paris, Australia is sitting pretty on top of the medal tally from the pool.

After four of the nine days, Australia has four gold, three silver and a bronze, ahead of the US (two gold, seven silver, six bronze) and Italy (two gold, two bronze) with several more potentially on the horizon.

Australia’s best ever performance in the pool was nine gold at the Tokyo Olympics, finishing second behind the US’ tally of 11 gold.

But despite the rivalry being hyped ahead of the Paris Games, so far it’s the Aussies firing all the shots with the Americans being left in their wake.

And although we may be getting ahead of ourselves, Australia could potentially top the swimming medal tally for the first time since the 1956 Melbourne Olympics.

It’s a sight two-time Aussie Olympic swimmer James Magnussen is relishing.

“We’re on track to make it our most successful Olympics ever,” Magnussen said on Fox Sports’ Matty & The Missile Podcast.

“Not only is Australia winning races, but America are losing events they would’ve been banking on for gold medals so this rivalry is at fever pitch at the midway point of this swimming meet.”

Arguably the most telling moment was in the women’s 100m backstroke, where Kaylee McKeown overcame the US duo of world record holder Regan Smith and Katharine Berkoff to claim the gold, becoming just the third woman to go back-to-back in consecutive Olympics after Dawn Fraser and Ariarne Titmus.

Kaylee McKeown was all smiles. Photo by SEBASTIEN BOZON / AFP

McKeown herself now has the chance to become the first woman to do the 100-200m backstroke at consecutive Olympics, and she is also a contender in the 200m medley.

But with Australia on track for a record haul in Paris and the US seemingly underperforming, of course the complaints and excuses are beginning.

“A lot of complaints about this pool. And I must say, most of these complaints are being aimed by our friends from America,” Magnussen said.

“They’re not happy with the depth of the pool, they’re saying there’s too many cameras in the pool (and that) it’s causing waves for the swimmers.

“Is that a coincidence that they’ve only got two medals and they’re complaining about the pool depth? You be the judge.”

The pool depth drama has erupted in recent days with the pool in Paris built on a rugby field and is reportedly 2.15m deep. Most international competitions are held in pools that are 3m, deep, while World Aquatics recommends a minimum depth of 2.5 metres for Olympic Games.

Cate Campbell said on Channel 9: “The pool is slightly shallower than we would normally see. You would normally want a 3m pool.”

The theory is the deeper the pool, the less turbulence there is in the water and choppy waves on the surface are reduced.

It’s been blamed for a lack of world records in the meet so far.

But the thing with swimming is that all swimmers are in the same pool and if it’s slow, it’s slow for all the competitors.

Australian discus thrower Benn Harradine may have said it best, tweeting: “The pool isn’t deep enough, but everyone is competing in it. Sure we love to see WR and all … but medals.”

Former Australian backstroker Meagan Nay also said: “Will we see an Olympic games with no WR in the swimming pool???

“Everyone in the same boat … Might not be the fastest boat but hey race the race …. Annoying tho, you can’t get the pool right at the Olympic Games …”

The New York Times medal tally. Photo: New York Times

The official Olympic tally. Photo: Supplied

But despite the US clearly having a disappointing meet so far, they will tell you they’re on top.

Just as they did in Tokyo and at the Aquatics World Championships in 2023, American publications have changed the way they display the medal tally.

While the rest of the world does it based on gold medals won, the US have ranked on total medals won, which the rest of the world has slammed.

After the furore, the New York Times’ online medal tally now has both, with the publication writing: “As of Tuesday at 5:11 p.m. Eastern time, Japan stood atop the official Olympic medal table, which sorts nations based on their number of gold medals.

“That approach is common in much of the world, with silver and bronze used only to break ties.

“By another measure, the United States leads because it has the most medals overall (26, at last count). Publications in the US, including The New York Times, often take this approach.”

It seems like you can never win when it comes to the US.

And after the championships, when Australia won 15 golds to America’s 7, USA swimming head coach Bob Bowman refused to concede the Aussies were the better team.

“There are a number of ways to calculate it,” Bowman said. “Total number, USA. Gold medals, pick which one you like. Which one do you like?”

Originally published as ‘America are losing’: Australia put US in its place amid bitter reality