WATCH: Michael Phelps Reacts To Cate Campbell's Comments About Team USA (2024)

During the 2024 U.S. Olympic trials, NBC ran a segment of Michael Phelps reacting to Australian swimmer Cate Campbell‘s comments about Team USA following the 2023 World Championships, where she emphasized how much she liked it when Australians beat Americans in swimming.

“Australia coming out on top is one thing, but it is just so much sweeter beating America. There were a couple of nights, particularly the first night of competition, where we did not have to hear the ‘Star Spangled Banner’ ring out through the stadium and I cannot tell you how happy that made me,” Campbell said in August 2023. “If I never hear that song again it will be too soon. Bring on Paris, that’s all I have to say. U.S., stop being sore losers.”

“When we’re right next to each other in the warm-up area, the U.S. has this infernal cowbell that they ring, and as someone leaves to go to the competition pool, they ring out ‘U-S-A, U-S-A’ and I have never wanted to punch someone more and steal that cowbell,” Campbell added.

Campbell, who did not qualify for the 2024 Australian Olympic team, told the Sydney Morning Herald this April that she did not mean harm with her remarks. In addition, 2024 Australian Olympian and three-time Olympic gold medalist Kaylee McKeown has stated that Campbell’s comments are not representative of how the entire Australian swimming team feels.

Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all-time, was shown by NBC the video of Campbell’s statements, and he encouraged Team USA to use her words as motivation. In addition, he also alluded to scrums he had with swimmers in his careers where he made them “eat every word they just said” about him with his performances.

“I appreciate your comments, Cate,” Phelps said. “If somebody said that to me, I would lose it. I would literally make them eat every word they just said about me. Because people have done it — Chad Le Clos, [Ian] Thorpe, you guys have all talked sh*t about me. And I had the last laugh. So for the Americans, if you see what I just saw, I would watch that thing every single day to give me that little extra bit of just mmph.”

“I would make them eat every word they said about me.”

Michael Phelps got FIRED UP about the USA vs. Australia swimming rivalry ahead of the #ParisOlympics. pic.twitter.com/57cKaLvgtE

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) June 21, 2024

Australian TV Channel 9, which Campbell had previously been on last year to make her comments about the Americans, responded to Phelps’ reaction — albeit in a lighter manner.

Part one pic.twitter.com/UtF40i6cXM

— Rowdy Gaines (@RowdyGaines) June 24, 2024

In addition to Phelps’ reaction, USA Swimming fully embraced cowbells at Olympic trials.

“We’re all bringing the cowbell,” said 2024 U.S. Olympian Abbey Weitzeil in a press conference during trials. “Whenever comments are made about your country or your jobs, it’s all competitive, and I think we all are competitive, our competitive side comes out. So we’re all bringing the cowbell, extra loud.”