‘We want to kill each other’: Phelps, US stars react to ‘sore losers’ barb
By Tom Decent
Cate Campbell’s infamous “sore losers” barb has made its way to NBC’s prime-time swimming coverage and into the lounge rooms of millions of Americans after Michael Phelps and a number of high-profile athletes expressed their bewilderment at comments that have lit the fuse ahead of the Paris Games.
Campbell appeared on Nine’s Today last year following Australia’s outstanding performance at the world swimming championships and was asked about USA coach Bob Bowman refusing to concede Australia had topped the medal tally, despite winning more golds.
Today host Karl Stefanovic said the Americans were, “sore, pathetic losers” before Campbell was asked for her opinion.
“Such sore losers,” Campbell agreed. “I mean, Australia coming out on top of the world is one thing, but it is just so much sweeter beating America.
“The first night of competition, we did not have to hear Star-Spangled Banner ring out through the stadium. I cannot tell you how happy that made me. Bring on Paris. That’s all I have to say to the US. Stop being sore losers.
“When we’re right next to each other in the warm-up area, the US has this infernal cowbell that they ring, and as someone leaves to go to the competition pool, they ring out ‘U-S-A, U-S-A’ and I have never wanted to punch someone more and steal that cowbell.”
Campbell, who did not qualify for the upcoming Olympics, told this masthead in April the comments were said in jest and not meant to be disrespectful. They have, however, become a talking point at the USA’s swimming trials this week in Indianapolis.
This masthead was sent footage of NBC’s coverage, which is not available in Australia, which shows US Olympians watching footage of Campbell’s television appearance and asking for their live reaction. Campbell’s comments also were played on the broadcast.
“Wow. That’s the first time I saw this,” said Phelps, the most decorated Olympian in history. “I would watch that thing every single day to give me that little extra [motivation].”
Lily King, an Olympic gold medallist and world record holder in the 100m breaststroke, is one of the most outspoken members of the USA team who rarely holds back. She was also surprised.
Michael Phelps after the men’s 4x100m freestyle final in Beijing in 2008. Credit: Steve Cristo
“It’s just funny to me that it gets on their nerves that much. That’s amusing,” King said on NBC’s coverage. “Is it going to be worse if they beat us than somebody else? Yeah. I’m glad everyone is jealous of the pride that we have for our country.
“We like each other, but we want to kill each other when we’re in the pool.”
At last year’s world championships in Japan, Australia beat the USA on the medal tally for just the second time in a major swimming competition since the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne.
Campbell’s Australian teammate, Kaylee McKeown, said at the time she did not agree with the remarks.
“I think everyone is entitled to an opinion … I just don’t agree with how Cate went about expressing her opinion,” McKeown told Ben Fordham on 2GB. “I’m all for rivalry and that kind of thing but there’s no need to be nasty about it in some ways. I’m personally not about that.”
Privately, Australia’s swimmers are not underestimating team USA, particularly in an Olympic year.
“That’s just worlds. This is the Olympics. This is the big game show,” said long-distance freestyler Bobby Finke.
Backstroker Ryan Murphy added: “Last summer’s over. It happened. So I love the idea of having an underdog mentality.”
Cate Campbell is surrounded by her fellow competitors after swimming the final of the women’s 50m freestyle.Credit: Getty Images
The USA (11 gold medals) narrowly beat Australia (nine) on the medal table at the Tokyo Olympics three years ago.
Australia’s swimmers depart for France this week ahead of a staging camp before heading into the Olympic village in late July. The swimming program begins in Paris on July 27.
Campbell’s attempt to make Australia’s team at last week’s Olympic trials ended in tears after she missed the final of her pet event, the 100m freestyle, and finished seventh in the 50m freestyle final on the last night of competition.
Rivals including Emma McKeon, Bronte Campbell and Shayna Jack consoled Campbell after the race, which marked the end of a decorated career spanning four Olympics since Beijing in 2008.
Earlier this year, Campbell said there was no issue between her and McKeown.
“Kaylee and I have never had a problem,” Campbell told this masthead. “We’ve chatted about it. The things that she said were in jest. She is also very blunt, she has no filter. In no way was there animosity directed at anyone.
“It was just funny because, let’s face it, America does like to be the best, and they do like to make it seem like they’re the best at everything.
“For goodness’ sake, when they have their baseball championships, they call it the World Series when it’s just America [and Canada]. When they’re the Super Bowl champions, they say they’re the champions of the world. You’re the champions of America.”
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