'Straight up cheated': America rages at Aussie swimming triumph
The Aussie women's 4x100m medley relay gold capped off a remarkable Olympic Games haul in the pool, but some US viewers were left fuming over the final leg of the race.
Cate Campbell finished the 4x100m medley and clinched Australia's most successful swimming campaign in Olympic Games history, securing our ninth gold medal in the pool in Tokyo.
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Campbell produced an incredible anchor swim as Kaylee McKeown, Chelsea Hodges, Emma McKeon finished with an Olympic Record of 3:51.73 seconds, 0.13 seconds ahead of the United States.
Campbell admitted she waited to celebrate after coming in first for gold after a close changeover when McKeon touched the wall.
The changeover was deemed near perfect from the famed anchor-leg swimmer and it helped Campbell secure the nail-biting finish.
But, US fans were left seething over the changeover.
Many accused Campbell of leaving the block too early, despite the changeover deemed perfectly legal.
One Twitter user wrote: "Australia straight up cheated," with the Tweet now deleted.
While Australians hit back at the claim and pointed to the rules.
I swear swimmer 2 for them jumped wayyyyy early too
— Gunnersaurus Jr. (@ShakhtArsenalFC) August 1, 2021
not the americans accusing us of cheating when we won the women’s medley relay 🥱
— teresa (@augustfallin) August 1, 2021
The Olympics are about fine margins but this is as close to flirting with disaster as possible. Aus won the Women's 4x100 medley relay this morning by 0.13 from USA. See Cate Campbell's reaction time. Could have been a DSQ. Ended up winning them the Gold probably. pic.twitter.com/fAEVZDPNEC
— Digvijay Singh Deo (@DiggySinghDeo) August 1, 2021
They have electronic touch pads for that and they said Australia was legal. We won, you lost. Enjoy!!!! Typical salty, sport American. Can never handle losing.
— Jim Leppik (@jamesleppik) August 1, 2021
SO PROUD!!! BUT Australia definitely left the block early for the last leg of the race!!!!!!
— sara (@Saraanderson47) August 1, 2021
Australia's Womens swim relay totally cheated! Dove in too early and Olympics officials said nothing! Americans were cheated out of a gold medal!
— Barbara Dees (@barbdees) August 1, 2021
Good to see American swimming fans are sour at the Aussies winning gold in the relay. Nope, the Aussies didn't cheat - your swimmers just buckled under the pressure #7Olympics #AUS #OlympicGames
— Sandy (@MzChocThunder) August 1, 2021
For those calling the Australian womens 4x100m medley relay team ' cheats', this is how timing equipment works. If you can't understand that it's impossible to cheat with this level of surveillance in the pool, you need to shut up & sit down! #OlympicGames pic.twitter.com/cnIxyxV4Xp
— Dark Angel Indii (@Indian_two) August 1, 2021
Campbell's lightning reaction off the blocks was 0.04 seconds, ahead of Abbey Weitzeil’s 0.36.
The Americans had the slowest reaction times off the blocks across the board, accumulating 1.09 seconds.
Regardless, the gold completed a golden Olympics for the women in the pool and a history-making Games for McKeon.
Emma McKeon creates Olympics history
McKeon became the first female swimmer and second in any sport in history to win seven medals at one Olympic Games.
The Aussie star came into the final day of swimming action in Tokyo with five medals for the meet, and won two more on Sunday.
McKeon won the 50m freestyle in an Olympic record time on Sunday, before helping the 4x100m medley relay women win gold in another Olympic record.
In doing so, McKeon won the 11th Olympic medal of her incredible career, breaking the Australian record held by Ian Thorpe and Leisel Jones (nine).
McKeon also becomes the first Australian in history to win seven medals at one Olympic Games.
She won four gold medals in Tokyo (100m freestyle, 4x100m freestyle relay, 50m freestyle and 4x100m medley relay), as well as three bronze (4x100m medley relay, 100m butterfly and 4x100m mixed medley relay).
She won four medals at the Rio Olympics in 2016 - gold in the 4x100m freestyle relay, silver in the 4x200m freestyle relay and 4x100m medley relay, as well as bronze in the 200m freestyle.
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