Australian swimmer Cate Campbell was hoping to compete in the 2024 Summer Olympics for her fifth consecutive Olympic Games but failed to qualify on Saturday.
The 32-year-old four-time Olympic gold medalist finished seventh place in the women's 50m freestyle final at the 2024 Australian Swimming Trials, quashing her chances of being confronted by the U.S. swim team in Paris after she called them "sore losers" last year.
A video shared by NBC Sports and Team USA showed 23-time American gold medalist Michael Phelps reacting to a resurfaced clip of Campbell slamming Team USA during a post-race interview at the 2023 World Championships.
In it, Campbell bragged after Australia won more gold medals at the World Championships and said her U.S. competitors were “such, such, sore losers."
She also expressed relief over not hearing the American National Anthem again anytime soon.
“Australia coming out on top is one thing, but it is just so much sweeter beating America," said Campbell, adding:
"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.”
She also commented on how the U.S. team had an "infernal cowbell" they rang every time a competitor left to go to the competition pool and they chanted "U-S-A, U-S-A!" which compelled Campbell to say she "never wanted to punch someone more."
Phelps, 38, raised his eyebrows after being shown the video and quipped, "I appreciate your comment, Cate."
The American former competitive swimmer and most decorated Olympian of all time continued:
“If somebody said that to me, I would lose it. I would literally make them eat every word they just said about me.”
He added:
“Well, the good news is the Olympics will be here shortly and we’ll be able to see what the results are.”
Here is a TikTok video of Phelps's reaction.
Campell spoke to Channel 9 after the trials and commented on Phelps's agitated reaction to watching her interview and chalked it up to good old-fashioned sports rivalry.
She said:
"Who knew a couple of comments said in jest [could] have stirred up all this trouble."
"But ultimately, that's kind of what we love about sport."
"It's the rivalries that get everyone going that gets the fire in the belly."
Social media users weighed in on the rivalry fueled by the spirit of competition.
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Campbell's legendary winning streak came to a close when she placed seventh in the 50m freestyle at Brisbane Aquatic Centre a day after she chose to withdraw from the 100m freestyle B final to conserve her energy for an all-or-nothing 50m race.
When she realized she failed to qualify for her final opportunity to make the Olympic team, Campbell reportedly teared up as she blew a kiss and waved to the cheering crowd.
Shayna Jack and Meg Harris joined other Australian competitors, including Campbell's sister Bronte, in congratulating Campbell and giving the retiring Olympian hugs
Following the results from Saturday's trials, Campbell posted a montage video and wrote:
"It’s been a big week of big feelings."
She told Channel 9:
"It's bitter-sweet. I had hoped for the fairytale ending and it's what I had worked for and what I felt I was capable of, and unfortunately my body just said, 'No.’ “
"Swimming is one of the most grueling sports out there and I have been at it a very, very long time."
Campbell continued:
"This is the end and it's a perfect way to exit the pool. My first major competition was in this swimming pool, gosh, maybe over 20 years ago, over two decades ago."
"I warmed up in this pool just behind us for the first time as a nine-year-old and tonight I warmed up in it as a 32-year-old, and I got to walk out and swim in a swimming pool that I've competed in so many times, that I've qualified for teams in, that I've broken world records in."
"This place and this sport has embedded itself so deeply into me that I just feel really, really privileged that if it was going to end it was going to end this way in front of this crowd and the people who I love."
Campbell made her Olympic debut in Beijing in 2008 where she won the bronze in the 50m freestyle. She also won the bronze medal in the 100m freestyle at the 2020 Tokyo Games.
She took an 18-month-long break after competing in Tokyo before announcing her bid to become the first Australian swimmer to compete in the fifth and final Olympics.
Campbell holds the current world record for short course 100m freestyle and is a former world record holder in the long course 100m freestyle.