Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympic swimmer in history, recently had a strong reaction to comments made by Australian swimmer Cate Campbell. Campbell had boasted about Australia’s success over Team USA at the 2023 World Championships, claiming that beating America was especially sweet. She also expressed her dislike for Team USA’s chanting and cowbell ringing during warmups.
Phelps, upon watching the video of Campbell’s comments, was visibly annoyed and stated that he would not take such remarks lightly. He emphasized that he would make anyone who spoke ill of him “eat every word” they said. Despite retiring from competitive swimming, Phelps encouraged future American swimmers to use such comments as motivation to perform better.
Phelps, who will be returning as a broadcaster for swimming competitions in Paris, urged American swimmers to watch Campbell’s video daily to fuel their competitive spirit. He recalled how he used negative comments from rivals like Australian swimmer Ian Thorpe to his advantage during his competitive days.
While Campbell downplayed Phelps’ reaction as jest, she acknowledged the long-standing rivalry between Australia and the U.S. in swimming and emphasized that a bit of trash talk adds to the excitement of the sport. Phelps, on the other hand, expressed eagerness to see how the American swimmers respond to the challenge in Paris and compete for more gold medals.
In conclusion, the exchange between Phelps and Campbell highlights the competitive nature of swimming and the impact of athlete rivalries on performance. As the Olympic Games approach, the anticipation for intense competition between nations like the U.S. and Australia continues to build, fueled by moments of controversy and motivation.