Campbell reignites slanging match with USA after Comm Games blitz
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Cate Campbell has reignited her slanging match with the USA after Australia’s crushing display at the Commonwealth Games.
Australia finished its utterly dominant Glasgow campaign on Monday (AEST) with 70 gold medals, 45 silvers and 56 bronzes for a total medal haul of 171.
Cate Campbell delivers a pointed message to America after Australia’s crushing display in Glasgow. Nine.
The Australians more than doubled England’s gold medal tally (29) and more than tripled Canada’s (19).
Campbell, the retired Australian swimming legend, took it as an opportunity to jab America two years out from the Los Angeles Olympics.
“There are two years to go until LA and I just see our Aussies drawing so much confidence from this rolling forward,” Campbell said on Nine’s Today.
“Look out, America – we’re coming for you next. We came for England – we’re coming for you next.”
Campbell’s pointed message comes three years after she labelled the US “sore losers” at the end of the 2023 swimming world championships, in response to American broadcaster NBC’s inflammatory medal tally antics.
Australia won the gold medal tally in Fukuoka but in a departure from tradition, the NBC’s table prioritised total medals, which put the US on top.
American swimming icon Michael Phelps fired back at Campbell’s “sore losers” sledge, declaring that if he was still competing he would make Australia “eat every word”.
Campbell also took aim at the “infernal cowbell” Americans ring at swimming competitions, and the accompanying chants of “U-S-A”.
Subsequently, many Americans now refer to her as ‘Cowbell Cate’.
The four-time Olympic gold medallist said there was “a lot to love” about Australia’s campaign in Glasgow.
From left: Lachlan Kennedy, Josh Azzopardi, Calab Law and Rohan Browning after winning gold in the men’s 4x100m relay in Glasgow. AP Photo/Kin Cheung.
“You just run out of superlatives to describe this team,” she gushed.
“I think their performances on the field of play set our hearts on fire and inspired so many of us.”
Australia will next get a chance to rumble with America at the Pan Pacific swimming championships in California this month.
However, some Dolphins stars, including Kaylee McKeown, Mollie O’Callaghan, Cameron McEvoy and Kyles Chalmers, won’t be competing.
