When fans think of rivalries in sports, it’s all about tension. Rivals aren’t made to like each other. Most historic clashes are built on bad blood.
It’s incredibly rare to see a “healthy” rivalry — which is what makes competitive spirit between the United States and Australia swimming so rare.
“It’s super funny because we like the Aussies,” said Lilly King, an American breaststroke Olympic gold medalist. “They’re cool people and we do get along, but we also want to win and we want to win more medals. So it’s a really healthy rivalry.
“Sometimes I wish it was a little less healthy, Like, ‘Let’s get at it, guys. Come on, let’s fight a little bit!’ But yeah, the Aussies are a fun group to race and a fun group to beat. We take a lot of pride in that, and does it motivate the team? Yeah, I think it definitely does.”
The rivalry between the United States and Australia dates back to the mid-1990s. The two countries dominated every other nation in the pool, constantly battling between each other for the top of the podium. Despite the consistent contests between the Americans and the Aussies, it’s a rivalry built on motivation, not contention.
“Getting to race Australia last summer was super fun and the way they were able to get out on top in most of the relays has really helped boost our motivation going into the Games,” said Katie Grimes, an American multi-event swimmer. “That rivalry is a good thing to get us focussed in practice every day and more excited to race against each other.”
The two sides are poised to once again go head-to-head for the gold medal in a majority of the swimming events. Of course, there are a plethora of other nations hoping to knock off the two pool powerhouses. But expect swimmers form the United States and Australia to be the favorites in a multitude of races.
Who is shaping up to come up top in 2024? Here is a look behind the number of the United States and Australia swimming.
MORE: Who will win Olympics swimming? Medal odds, expert picks
USA vs. Australia swimming by the numbers
It’s been nearly 70 years since Australia beat the United States in Olympic swimming medal count. The last time that happened was at the 1956 Melbourne Games. At the last Olympics in Tokyo in 2021, the USA won 11 gold medals to Australia’s nine, marking the closest differential since that Olympics in Melbourne.
Here is a comparison of the fastest Australian and USA swimmers heading into the 2024 Olympics, based on each athlete’s best time so far this year. Times are from the Sydney Morning Herald.
*Americans in bold
Women’s freestyle
EventFastest 2nd3rd50mShayna Jack (AUS) — 23.99Simone Manuel (USA) — 24.13 Gretchen Walsh (USA) — 24.15100mMollie O’Callaghan (AUS) — 52.27Kate Douglass (USA) — 52.56Shayna Jack (AUS) — 52.65200mAriarne Titmus (AUS) — 1:52.23Mollie O’Callaghan (AUS) — 1:52.48Katie Ledecky (USA) — 1:54.97400mAriarne Titmus (AUS) — 3:55.44Katie Ledecky (USA) — 3:58.35Lani Pallister (AUS) — 4:01.75800mKatie Ledecky (USA) — 8:12.95Ariarne Titmus (AUS) — 8:14.06Lani Pallister (AUS) — 8:18.461500mKatie Ledecky (USA) — 15:37.35Lani Pallister (AUS) — 15:53.79Katie Grimes (USA) — 15:57.77
Women’s backstroke
EventFastest2nd3rd100mRegan Smith (USA) — 57.13Kaylee McKeown (AUS) — 57.41Katharine Berkoff (USA) — 57.83200mKaylee McKeown (AUS) — 2:03.30Regan Smith (USA) — 2:03.99Phoebe Bacon (USA) — 2:06.27
Women’s breaststroke
EventFastest2nd3rd100mLilly King (USA) — 1:05.43Emma Weber (USA) — 1:05.43Jenna Strauch (AUS) — 1:06.90200mKate Douglass (USA) — 2:19.30Lilly King (USA) — 2:21.93Ella Ramsay (AUS) — 2:22.87
Women’s butterfly
EventFastest2nd3rd100mGretchen Walsh (USA) — 55.18Torri Huske (USA) —55.52Emma McKeon (AUS) — 56.40200mRegan Smith (USA) — 2:04.80Lizzy Dekkers (AUS) — 2:05.20Alex Shackell (USA) — 2:06.1
Women’s individual medley
EventFastest2nd3rd200mKaylee McKeown (AUS) — 2:06.63Kate Douglass (USA) — 2:06.79Alex Walsh (USA) — 2:07.63400mKatie Grimes (USA) — 4:32.45Emma Weyant (USA) — 4:35.56Ella Ramsay (AUS) — 4:36.56
Men’s freestyle
EventFastest 2nd3rd50mCam McEvoy (AUS) — 21.13Caeleb Dressel (USA) — 21.41Chris Guiliano (USA) — 21.69100mJack Alexy (USA) — 47.08Chris Guiliano (USA) — 47.25Kyle Chalmers (AUS) — 47.63200mLuke Hobson (USA) — 1:44.89Chris Guiliano (USA) — 1:45.38Maximillian Guiliani (AUS) — 1:45.83400mElijah Winnington (AUS) — 3:41.41Sam Short (AUS) — 3:41.64Aaron Shackell (USA) — 3:45.46800mElijah Winnington (AUS) — 7:42.95Sam Short (AUS) — 7:43.98Robert Finke (USA) — 7:43.981500mRobert Finke (USA) — 14:40.28David Johnston (USA) — 14:52.74Sam Short (AUS) — 15:03.25
Men’s backstroke
EventFastest2nd3rd100mRyan Murphy (USA) — 52.22Hunter Armstrong (USA) — 52.68Isaac Cooper (AUS) — 53.46200mRyan Murphy (USA)— 1:54.33Keaton Jones (USA) — 1:54.61Brad Woodward (AUS) — 1:56.22
Men’s breaststroke
EventFastest2nd3rd100mNic Fink (USA) — 58.57Sam Williamson (AUS) — 58.80Charlie Swanson (USA) — 59.16200mMatthew Fallon (USA) — 2:06.54Zac Stubblety-Cook (AUS) — 2:07.40Joshua Yong (AUS) — 2:08.08
Men’s butterfly
EventFastest2nd3rd100mCaeleb Dressel (USA) — 50.19Matt Temple (AUS) —50.61Thomas Heilman (USA) — 50.80200mThomas Heilman (USA) — 1:54.50Luca Urlando (USA) — 1:54.64Bowen Gough (AUS) — 1:56.18
Men’s individual medley
EventFastest2nd3rd200mCarson Foster (USA) — 1:55.65Shaine Casas (USA) — 1:55.83Will Petric (AUS) — 1:55.83400mCarson Foster (USA) — 4:07.64Chase Kalisz (USA) — 4:09.39Brendon Smith (AUS) — 4:10.18
Source link : https://www.sportingnews.com/us/olympics/news/usa-australia-swimming-comparison-numbers-2024-olympics/779058513375c75970092c04
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Publish date : 2024-07-27 08:50:01
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