Michael Phelps Has Epic Reaction To Australian Swimmer Trash Talking Team USA And The National Anthem

With American swimmers battling against one another this week to earn a spot on Team USA for the upcoming Olympics in Paris, NBC is doing its part to not only grab the attention of fans but also the greatest American swimmer of all time, Michael Phelps.

The only country that has managed to contend against the U.S. in the pool in recent years is Australia. The Americans have earned the most medals overall and most gold medals each of the last eight Olympics, while Australia has taken runner-up honors in both categories.

The Aussies did manage to get the last laugh at the 2023 World Aquatic Championship in Japan by earning 13 golds, nearly doubling up the American tally of seven. Cate Campbell, a four-time Olympian for Australia, went viral after her country's triumph last summer by bashing Team USA in just about every way imaginable.

It is just so much sweeter beating America," Campbell told ‘Today' in Australia. "The first night of the competition, we did not have to hear 'Star Spangled Banner' ring out through the stadium. I cannot tell you how happy that made me."

"If I [ever] hear that song again, it will be too soon. Bring on Paris. That’s all I have to say to the U.S. Stop being sore losers."

Campbell's "sore loser" comment was more aimed at NBC after the network used a ranking style on its medal table that ranked the U.S. ahead of Australia, given the Americans had earned more medals overall while the Aussies had earned more golds.

Nevertheless, Campbell's comments caused quite a stir last summer, and the U.S. is leaning into her scathing remarks ahead of the Games in Paris.

Michael Phelps Reacts To Australian Trash Talk

NBC showed the clip to Phelps, who had never seen the video, and the 23-time gold medal winner didn't exactly appreciate what he saw.

"I appreciate your comments, Cate," Phelps said while staring directly into the camera. "If somebody said that to me, I would lose it. I would literally make them eat every word they just said about me. Cause people have done it. Chad le Clos? Ian Thorpe? You guys have all talked sh-t about me, and I had the last laugh."

Campbell failed to qualify for the Paris Olympics after finishing one-hundredth of a second out of the final spot for Team Australia. While we may not witness an American battle against Campbell next month, the USA-Australia rivalry in the pool will still be a major talking point throughout the Games.