Six swimming stars reveal what the USA versus Australia rivalry means to them ahead of Paris 2024
The United States against Australia in swimming is one of the greatest Olympic rivalries of this century.
Who can forget when Australian quartet Michael Klim, Chris Fydler, Ashley Callus and Ian Thorpe celebrated their men’s 4x100m freestyle relay victory at Sydney 2000 by playing the air guitar on the pool deck in response to Gary Hall Jr’s claim that the Americans would ‘smash them like guitars’ ahead of the final?
(L to R) Ashley Callus, Chris Fydler, Michael Klim and Ian Thorpe of Australia celebrate after winning gold in the Mens 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay during the Olympic Games Sydney 2000.
After that Games, the Dolphins from Down Under admittedly went through a barren period that saw the US reign supreme in the pool.
But that all changed at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, where astonishing performances from Ariarne Titmus, Emma McKeon, and Kaylee McKeown helped steer Australia to within a whisker of a Caeleb Dressel and Katie Ledecky-inspired US, finishing second overall by two golds.
In 2023, Australia then topped the World Championships medal tally, winning nearly double the gold medals of their US rivals (13 to seven). The US contested this, putting themselves top of the table due to their higher overall medal count. Aussie legend Cate Campell branded the US ‘sore losers’ as a result, which prompted Michael Phelps’ viral response, encouraging his compatriots to ‘make them eat every word’.
Campbell has since clarified that her comment was not meant to be disrespectful, but the stage has certainly been set for another blockbuster edition of this rivalry at the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
Below, we take a look at what some of the current swimmers from the two nations have to say about the rivalry, and what it means to them as athletes.
Lilly King: I wish the rivalry was a little less healthy!
US breaststroke queen and Rio 2016 Olympic champion, Lilly King, has fond memories of the rivalry between the two nations.
“I remember growing up and they were the only team that was remotely comparable to us, so they were like, it's a rivalry,” King told Olympics.com.
“I remember watching the early editions of Duel in the Pool, where it was the USA versus Australia, which were great. It’s super funny because we like the Aussies - they’re cool people and we do get along, but we also want to win and we want to win more medals. So it's a really healthy rivalry. Sometimes I wish it was a little less healthy, Like, 'Let's get at it, guys. Come on, let's fight a little bit!’
“But yeah, the Aussies are a fun group to race and a fun group to beat. We take a lot of pride in that, and does it motivate the team? Yeah, I think it definitely does.”
Cameron McEvoy was one of the Australians who landed gold at a memorable 2023 World Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, taking out the coveted men’s 50m freestyle title.
He emphasised how important the competition with the US is, how it has improved the teams, and why we have plenty more to look forward to.
“You always want a healthy rivalry in sport. We did get one up on them in Fukuoka, which I think it's going to make for very good entertainment for Paris and beyond,” he told Olympics.com.
“We are probably the strongest we've ever been as a team across the board. Depth wise, and just how young the team is as well, there's going to be a little bit of longevity to that too. So I think it's really good for both teams and the sport. I reckon we'll hear a few more cowbells being played in the background (at Paris 2024), but aside from that, I’m excited.”
Paris 2024 swimming relays won't be for faint-hearted
Former 400m freestyle world champion Elijah Winnington was part of the Dolphins’ magnificent performance in Fukuoka, and echoed McEvoy’s sentiments.
“Last year the Aussies topped the gold medal table for only the second time ever so obviously the US has a few up on us still but I think it’s really pushing the sport forward. You’ve got to have rivalries. Speaking from personal experience, having Sam Short to race against at every domestic meet, we push ourselves faster and faster, and that’s the same on the international stage with the US so I think that’s great for competition.”
Both teams place a special significance on the relay events and US multi-eventer Kate Douglass says that the 2023 World Championships served as a wake up call of sorts for her nation.
“Getting to race Australia last summer was super fun and the way they were able to get out on top in most of the relays has really helped boost our motivation going into the Games. That rivalry is a good thing to get us focussed in practice every day and more excited to race against each other” - Kate Grimes to Olympics.com.
However, there appears to be a generational gap in how this rivalry is viewed.
While the fire clearly still burns bright between the older members of their respective teams, the younger swimmers have a less intense approach to the extreme competition between the swimming heavyweights.
That said, they are still well aware of the history, and the importance of these matchups in extracting the best performance from themselves.
“I don’t go into competitions saying ‘we gotta be Australia’, Katie Grimes, 18, told Olympics.com.
“But I would say on the international stage, of course having that rivalry between us is definitely fun. I'm glad it's not an aggressive thing. I think it's very light hearted and very playful in terms of sport. I think it's something that can draw more viewers to the sport for sure and this summer is going to be really fun to watch.”
For a minority, like Grimes’ US teammate at Paris 2024 Hunter Armstrong, the rivalry was even news!
“I didn't know that we were rivals with Australia at any point until Worlds! I thought we were just kind of that way with everyone, like the main powerhouses Britain, Australia, and Italy,” Armstrong told Olympics.com. The Aussies are great, I love them, and it does make sense because they are incredible. But when I'm behind the block, I'm not thinking of rivalry or anything, I'm just trying to get my hand on the wall first and win the race.”