The Olympics are a few weeks away and the trash-talking has already begun. In fact, it started last year.
Australian swimmer Cate Campbell, called Team USA “sore losers” after defeating them in 2023.
“Such, such, sore losers,” Campbell said in the full 2023 clip, according to SwimSwam.com. “Australia coming out on top is one thing, but it is just so much sweeter beating America. There were a couple of nights, particularly the first night of competition, where we did not have to hear the ‘Star Spangled Banner’ ring out through the stadium and I cannot tell you how happy that made me. If I never hear that song again it will be too soon. Bring on Paris, that’s all I have to say. U.S., stop being sore losers.”
One person who did not take too kindly to Campbell’s words was 23-time gold medalist Michael Phelps, who had a message for Campbell.
“If somebody said that to me, I would lose it,” Phelps said after watching the clip. “I would make them eat every word they just said about me.”
Phelps encouraged American swimmers to watch the clip every day to fire them up. He even said when he swam other swimmers would trash-talk him.
“You guys all talked s*** about me. And I had the last laugh,” Phelps said, smiling. “So for the Americans, if you see what I just saw, I would watch that thing every day to give me that little extra bit of just oomph.”
American swimmer Lily King responded to Campell recently as well.
“Sorry we aren’t so uptight we can’t cheer for our teammates as they walk out for events…See you in Paris.”
Sorry we aren’t so uptight we can’t cheer for our teammates as they walkout for events👀 See you in Paris🥰 https://t.co/wnt9Qe46GJ
— Lilly King (@_king_lil) August 1, 2023
Campbell may regret those words in the coming weeks.
About Stacey Mickles
Stacey is a 1995 graduate of the University of Alabama who has previously worked for other publications such as Sportskeeda and Saturday Down South.