Cate Campbell will not line up in Paris as part of Australia’s Olympic contingent next month for the Summer Olympics.
Campbell placed seventh in the 50 meter freestyle at Australia’s Olympic swimming trials, failing to make the team traveling to her home country next month. However, she did not participate in the 100 meter race.
This failure to qualify is noteworthy given some recent controversy inspired by Campbell. Videos have emerged of her bragging after beating Team USA at the World Championships last summer.
Campbell referenced the US swimmers when calling them “sore losers” after Australia won more gold at the 2023 World Championship.
U.S. swimming fans were critical of the comments and a video has surfaced of 23-time gold medalist Michael Phelps watching Campbell discuss the importance of doping tests.
“If somebody said that to me, I would lose it. I would make them eat every word they just said about me,” Phelps said before adding, “Well, the good news is the Olympics will be here shortly, and we’ll be able to see what the results are.”
Admittedly, Campbell dwelt on her poor form at last week’s Australian trials.
She labeled the result “bittersweet” in her interview with an Australian news source. She continued to say, “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.’ “
Campbell failed to qualify, meaning the sprint queen will not become the first Australian swimmer in history to contest five straight Olympics. She has since announced she is taking a break from competing.
“Swimming is one of the most grueling sports out there, and I have been at it a very, very long time,” Campbell told the news outlet. “This is the end, and it’s a perfect way to exit the pool… I would have loved that fairytale ending more than anything else, but I can now sit back and reflect on a wonderful career. I can leave the sport with my head held really high.”
After the trials Campbell also responded to her viral comments by saying rivalries are what “makes the sport.”
“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,” she said. “It’s the rivalries that get everyone going that gets the fire in the belly… Australia has had such a long rivalry with the U.S. and a little bit of trash talk never hurt anyone.”
