'America has underperformed': Australia on brink of snapping 68-year Olympic drought
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With one night of swimming action remaining of Paris 2024, Australia is on the cusp of breaking a 68-year Olympics drought.
With four gold still up for grabs, Australia lead the US 7-6 on the medal tally. Australia and the USA is one of the most fierce rivalries in swimming, but not since Melbourne in 1956 have the Dolphins finished above the USA in the pool.
Australia is two gold medals away from equalling the incredible haul from Tokyo, and has representation in three of the four races remaining in Paris.
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In the women's 50m freestyle final, Shayna Jack and Meg Harris are Australia's hopes for individual glory, before focus turns to the men's and women's 4x100m medley relays.
Australia doesn't have a representative in the men's 1500m final after Sam Short finished seventh in his heat on Saturday night (AEST).
Australia is on the verge of a 68-year Olympic first with one night of competition remaining in the Paris pool. Luke Hales/Getty
Speaking on Nine's coverage on Sunday morning, Cate Campbell said the USA had underperformed in the Paris pool.
"It's very tight ... we are doing so well. We are flying and America has probably, even by their own admission, been under performing to what they would usually do at an Olympic stage," she said.
"They have a bigger swim team than us, they're in more events and come from a country of 350 million people.
"I still think we're doing very well."
Campbell added, with tongue firmly in cheek, that coming from such a small country was no excuse for not winning the same number of medals.
Australia have won seven gold, six silver and three bronze. The USA have six gold, 12 silver and seven bronze. Should the USA draw level in terms of gold on Monday morning, they will win the head-to-head.
Both nations will head into the final night of competition as favourites to win one event each. Australia the women's relay, and the US the men's.
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The American men set a new world record when they won gold in Tokyo, and qualified for the final with the third-quickest time behind hosts France and China. The Aussies are likely an outside chance.
But in the women, the Aussies will start favourites.
Campbell said Sarah Sjostrom was a massive favourite to win the women's 50m freestyle, and Irishman Daniel Wiffen in the men's 1500m.
"Sarah Sjostrom (was) so fast today. Half a second ahead of the rest of the field and then from second to eighth there is two tenths of a second," Campbell said before adding an upset was unlikely.
"Sarah is well and truly the runaway favourite."
