By C. Perera, JadeTimes News
Australia’s Olympic Swimming Dominance Shakes America for the First Time in 128 Years
Australia's exceptional performance in the Olympic pool has led to a historic upset not seen in over a century, significantly impacting the competition. On August 2, 2024, Caeleb Dressel’s emotional reaction to failing to qualify for the 100 meter butterfly final highlighted the intensity of this rivalry.
For the first time since 1896, Australia has outperformed the United States during the first week of the Olympics. This fierce rivalry in swimming is unfolding as an Australian dream come true, with seven gold medals, five of which were achieved in races where Americans finished second.
On Saturday morning , Kaylee McKeown defended her 200m backstroke title after winning the 100m backstroke earlier in the week, both times besting American Regan Smith. Smith, who had broken McKeown’s world record earlier this year, now has five silver medals and one bronze in Olympic competition. Despite Smith’s commendable performance, McKeown’s ability to excel when it counts most has established her dominance.
Australia's victory in the pool has brought them 11 gold medals, positioning them third in the medal tally, ahead of the United States, which had nine gold medals by Sunday morning. This marks the first time in 128 years that Australia has led the Americans after the first week of Olympic competition.
The second week may see America reclaiming more gold medals, but the current situation is what truly matters. The emotional response from Dressel, a seven time gold medalist and successor to Michael Phelps, after failing to qualify for the 100 meter butterfly final, underscores the pressure and stakes of this competition. Dressel admitted to not performing his best but cherished his Olympic experience nonetheless.
As the swimming events conclude, the spotlight remains on the six Americans who might have won gold if not for their Australian counterparts, and on Dressel’s unexpected 50m freestyle loss. Despite America's expected strong finish, Australia’s unprecedented success in the pool is a historic achievement, highlighting their competitive spirit and dominance.
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