Retired swimming legend Michael Phelps uses Australian swimmer Cate Campbell's trash talk as motivation for Team USA ahead of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
As the excitement for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris intensifies, the competitive spirit that once propelled Michael Phelps to Olympic glory remains an undeniable force within him. Despite his retirement from swimming, Phelps' determination and fire are as potent as ever, and he is leveraging this to inspire Team USA in their pursuit of more golden triumphs.
In a recent interaction with Fox News Digital, Phelps shared his thoughts on Australian swimmer Cate Campbell's comments made at the 2023 World Championships in Japan. Campbell had boasted about Australia's superiority in the pool over the United States, even going so far as to express disdain for the "Star-Spangled Banner" and the team's pre-race chants.
The Competitive Spirit of Michael Phelps: Igniting Team USA in Paris with Trash Talk
Unveiling a video of Campbell's remarks, Phelps' irritation was evident. His response was nothing short of candid: "If somebody said that to me, I would lose it. I would make them eat every word they just said about me."
While Phelps may no longer be competing in the pool, his influence and passion for swimming remain unmatched. He believes that Campbell's trash talk can serve as a powerful motivator for Team USA, urging them to use it as fuel for their own success.
The Competitive Spirit of Michael Phelps: Igniting Team USA in Paris with Trash Talk
Recalling his own experiences as a competitive swimmer, Phelps emphasized the role that external criticism and trash talk played in driving him towards greatness. He used the disparaging remarks of rivals like Australian swimmer Ian Thorpe as motivation, proving that he had the last laugh with his unmatched Olympic record.
"You guys all talked s--- about me," Phelps said. "And I had the last laugh. So for the Americans, if you see what I just saw, I would watch that thing every day to give me that little extra bit of just oomph."
The Competitive Spirit of Michael Phelps: Igniting Team USA in Paris with Trash Talk
Phelps' presence in Paris will extend beyond the pool as he joins NBCUniversal's broadcasting team for the swimming competitions. With his keen eye for detail and unparalleled understanding of the sport, he will undoubtedly observe Team USA's response to the Australians and their other competitors in the pursuit of Olympic glory.
"The good news is the Olympics will be here shortly, and we'll be able to see what the results are," Phelps said, shaking his head as the video of Campbell's comments ended.
Campbell, for her part, downplayed Phelps' remarks, attributing them to the nature of sporting rivalries.
"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 get the fire in the belly."
Whether or not Campbell's trash talk will truly ignite Team USA remains to be seen. However, one thing is certain: Michael Phelps' competitive spirit, even in retirement, continues to burn brightly, inspiring the next generation of swimmers to reach for greatness. And as the countdown to Paris 2024 continues, Phelps will be watching intently, ready to witness how Team USA responds to the challenge and rises to the occasion.
