American Olympic champion Rowdy Gaines is impressed by the strength of Australia’s swimming team before the Paris Olympics. He believes that the Australian team is in a position to surpass their long-time rivals, the USA, and claim the top spot on the medal table for the first time in 68 years. Last year, Australia outperformed the USA at the world swimming championships in Japan by winning 13 gold medals, seven silvers, and five bronzes, while the USA only managed to secure seven gold medals, their lowest haul since 1994.
The Australian team, led by swimmers like Ariarne Titmus, Kaylee McKeown, Cam McEvoy, and Kyle Chalmers, along with the strong relay teams, has been making waves in the swimming world. Australia has not topped an Olympic swimming medal table since the 1956 Games in Melbourne, but they did win a record nine gold medals at the last Olympics in Tokyo.
Gaines expressed his thoughts on the upcoming rivalry between the USA and Australia in a documentary titled Boiling Point – Swimming’s Greatest Rivalry. He acknowledged that the Australians are likely to win the most gold medals in Paris. The history between the two countries in swimming has always been intense, with Gaines describing it as a mix of rivalry and brotherly love.
Former Australian swimming stars Giaan Rooney and Michael Klim echoed Gaines’ sentiments about Australia’s strong chances at the Olympics. Rooney, a two-time Olympian, agreed that Australia could outperform the USA on the medal table, emphasizing the team’s potential and experience in handling pressure. Klim, a gold medalist in the men’s 4x100m freestyle relay at Sydney 2000, believes that the current Australian squad has what it takes to achieve success in Paris.
The upcoming Australian swimming trials will set the stage for the Olympic team selection, with the competition starting on Monday. The documentary Boiling Point features interviews with swimming legends like Ian Thorpe, Michael Phelps, Grant Hackett, and Ariarne Titmus, shedding light on the enduring rivalry between the swimming powerhouses.
As the anticipation builds for the Paris Olympics, the swimming world eagerly awaits the showdown between Australia and the USA in the pool. The stage is set for a thrilling battle for supremacy, with both countries aiming to make a splash and etch their names in swimming history.