Swimmer Kate Campbell will not travel to Paris next month to represent Australia at the upcoming Summer Olympics.
Campbell finished seventh in the 50m freestyle at the Australian Olympic Trials and failed to qualify for her country’s Olympic team in July. She did not compete in the 100m.
Campbell’s failure to qualify is notable given that she was recently at the center of controversy after a video circulated of her bragging about beating the U.S. team at last year’s world championships.
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Kate Campbell looks on after swimming in the women’s open 100m freestyle final during the 2024 Australian Open Swimming Championships at the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre on April 17, 2024 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
In an interview after the 2023 World Championships, Campbell described the U.S. athletes as “sorrowfuls” after Australia won more gold medals at the event.
Michael Phelps enraged after Australian swimmers criticize US team: ‘I make them believe everything they say’
“It’s great that Australia won, but it’s even better that they beat the USA,” Campbell said. “Especially on the first night of competition, there were a few nights when ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ wasn’t playing in the stadium. I can’t tell you how good that made me. If I never hear that song again, it will be too soon. Go win Paris and that’s it. Stop being a sore loser, USA.”
The comments sparked outrage among US swimming fans, and a video was released of 23-time gold medal winner Michael Phelps responding to Campbell’s comments.
Kate Campbell of Australia competes in the women’s 100m freestyle during the 2024 Australian Swimming Championships at Brisbane Aquatic Centre on June 14, 2024 in Brisbane, Australia. (Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
“If someone said that to me I would be freaked out and I would take back everything they said about me,” Phelps said, adding: “Well, the good news is the Olympics are coming up soon and we’ll see how it goes.”
Australian athlete Kate Campbell prepares to compete in the women’s 100m freestyle at the 2024 Australian Swimming Championships at Brisbane Aquatic Centre on June 14, 2024 in Brisbane, Australia. (Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
Campbell, meanwhile, was clearly disappointed with his poor performance in last week’s Australian qualifiers.
“It’s bittersweet,” Campbell told Australia’s Channel 9, reflecting on the disappointing outcome. “I was hoping for a fairytale ending, I worked hard for it, I thought I could get it, but unfortunately my body said no.”
Had she qualified, Campbell would have become the first Australian swimmer to compete in five consecutive Olympic Games, but she has said she is retiring from competitive swimming.
“Swimming is one of the most demanding sports and I’ve been doing it for a long, long time,” Campbell told Channel 9. “This is the perfect way to finish and get out of the pool… I wanted this fairytale ending more than anything but now I can sit back and look back on a fantastic career and I can leave the sport with my head held high.”
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Commenting on his comments which went viral after the trials, Campbell suggested the rivalry ultimately helps boost the sport.
“Who knew some of the comments were made in jest? [could] “Australia has had a long-standing rivalry with the United States and a little badmouthing never hurt anyone,” she said.
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