A brief history of the Team USA vs. Australia swimming rivalry and how it reignited before the Paris Olympics
Welcome to FTW Explains, a guide to catching up on and better understanding stuff going on in the world. This is FTW Explains: The Olympics. If you're a fan of Olympic swimming, there's a good chance you've heard about the long-standing rivalry between the U.S. and Australia, and you're curious what that's all about. We're here to help. per the Australian Associated Press
A brief history of the swimming rivalry between Team USA and Australia
NBC Sports noted via the Australian Associated Press
“When we’re right next to each other in the warm-up areas, the U.S. [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.”
But Cate Campbell's 'sore losers' and anti-cowbell comments were in 2023. What does that have to do with the Paris Olympics?
"If somebody said that to me, I would lose it. I would literally make them eat every word they just said about me. Because people have done it; Chad Le Clos, [Ian] Thorpe — you guys have all talked [expletive] about me, and I had the last laugh."So for the Americans, if you see what I just saw — that's the first time I saw it — I would watch that thing every single day to give me that little extra bit of just oomph."
Team USA has since responded with promises of more cowbell
"We're all bringing the cowbell. Whenever comments are made about your country or your jobs, it's all competitive, and I think we all are competitive, our competitive side comes out, so we're all bringing the cowbell, extra loud!"
Has Team USA said anything about Campbell's comments or the USA-Australian rivalry at the Paris Olympics?
Top USA-Australia Olympic swimming races to watch in Paris
beating Ledecky in the latter Titmus is the world record holder in the 400 women's backstroke with American Regan Smith Smith took it back
This article originally appeared on For The Win: A brief history of the Team USA vs. Australia swimming rivalry and how it reignited before the Paris Olympics
