Editorial content for the 2023 World Aquatics Championships is sponsored by FINIS, a longtime partner of Swimming World and leading innovator of suits, goggles and equipment. Kaylee McKeown Responds to Backlash After Cate Campbell ‘Sore Loser’ Comments: ‘We Don’t Think What She Said’ The swimming rivalry between the United States and Australia has peaked this week after the Aussies had one of their most successful international competitions ever with 13 gold medals and 25 total medals. Australia was surely the dominant nation of the meet, but the U.S. won World Aquatics’ team of the meet award while American broadcaster NBC Sports showed a medal count ranking with the American team in front because of the 38 medals captured, even though only seven were gold. In a television appearance earlier this week, Aussie sprint great Cate Campbell called the Americans “sore losers” while criticizing the American swimmers for banging a loud cowbell any time any time a swimmer left from the team area to race. “I’ve never wanted to punch someone more,” Campbell said. American breaststroker Lilly King responded, “Sorry we aren’t so uptight we can’t cheer for our teammates as they walkout for events. See you in Paris.” Now, even some of Campbell’s fellow Australians are trying to walk back the comments. Kaylee McKeown, named top female swimmer of the world championships after sweeping the three women’s backstroke events, was particularly vocal. In an interview with The Daily Telegraph, McKeown spoke on the competition with the American team and why she disapproved of Campbell’s comments, noting in particular that Campbell was not part of this year’s Worlds team. “I think the rivalry between Swimming Australia and the American team has been that way for decades,” McKeown said. “It’s not anything new. I think there’s a right and wrong way to say things. Cate’s entitled to her opinion, but I just want the U.S. to know that she’s not speaking on behalf of the whole Australian team. She wasn’t in Japan, so for her to make those comments and not be there, it kind of makes us athletes, not look bad, but we don’t think what she said.” “I know there was a few of us that I had a few comments to say about it, and we weren’t too impressed about it that she had her two cents to put in. Like I said, everyone’s entitled to their own opinion. I don’t necessarily agree with it. I don’t like being called sore losers on our behalf, so I can imagine how they would feel having her said that.” McKeown, 22, swam in her first Olympics two years ago in Tokyo, joining Campbell on Australia’s 400 medley relay squad that captured gold as Campbell came from behind to beat the United States by 13-hundredths. Campbell, 31, is attempting a comeback in hopes of qualifying for a sixth Olympics next year. It remains to be seen if any more Australians will add their voices to the ongoing feud, but we do know that the title of superiority will be settled squarely at next summer’s Paris Olympics. Watch the full video from The Daily Telegraph below:
Americans sore losers …? Never a truer word spoken.
Cate trashing Olympic gold medalists….some can,some can’t or dont win,no need to be a poor sport
Rather than trash Americans, I would have rather seen Cate, who is arguably the Dawn Fraser or Shane Gould of her generation, pump up her fellow Aussies for doing such an incredibly impressive job at the meet.
No one cares about sore losers, but we all love and respect gracious winners.
Take the high road, Cate.
The American\Aussie rivalry is great for the sport, let’s see what happens in Paris.