The Australian women’s swim team’s sensational victory in the 4x100m medley relay has upset US fans with some accusing the golden girls of cheating.
Emma McKeon, Kaylee McKeown, Chelsea Hodges, and Cate Campbell beat their US opponents by 0.13 seconds to clinch gold in the race on Sunday.
Upset American fans immediately took to Twitter to claim the narrow victory was only possible because Campbell cheated by jumping into the water before McKeown touched the end wall during the final changeover.
Officials declared Campbell actually made her start 0.04 seconds after McKeon touched the wall and, therefore, the changeover was legal.
The Australian women’s swim team’s sensational victory in the 4x100m medley relay has left US fans sour with some accusing the golden girls of cheating
Emma McKeon, Kaylee McKeown, Chelsea Hodges and Cate Campbell beat their US opponents by 0.13 seconds to clinch gold in the race on Sunday
‘Australia straight up cheated,’ one American fan tweeted. ‘Should have been a disqualification. Shameful.’
Another one added: ‘Campbell jumped into the water too soon!’
‘Australia dove in early!’ another tweeted. ‘No one caught it! Americans were cheated out of gold!’
‘BS. How did Australia’s final swimmer leave the top?’ another added.
American fans’ unfounded cheating accusations became awkward after the US men’s team’s own questionable conduct in their relay just minutes later.
Upset US fans immediately took to Twitter to claim the narrow victory was only possible because Campbell had cheated by jumping into the water before McKeon had touched the end wall during the final changeover
Olympic legend Ian Thorpe questioned if one of their swimmers disregarded rules by exiting the pool before his competitors finished the race.
Thorpe, among others who were commentating the race, were quick to notice the faux pas, but footage of the incident remains inconclusive.
American swimmer Zach Apple led his team to victory in the final leg of the race, closely followed by Britain with Italy finishing third.
The athlete swum the fastest freestyle leg of the field at 46.95 seconds.
As a jubilant Apple is helped out of the pool and starts to celebrate with teammates Ryan Murphy, Michael Andrew, and Caeleb Dressel, the commentators question if the athlete has broken a long-standing rule.
Their comments came after the US men’s team was put under the spotlight over their questionable conduct in the 4x100m relay
However, Australian commentators have questioned if Apple may have disregarded Olympic rules by exiting the pool before his competitors had finished the race
‘Thorpie I think you’re wondering had they all finished before Zach Apple got out of the pool,’ a commentator probes.
‘Your toe needs to be in the water, is the rule,’ Thorpe confirms.
Channel Seven footage is inconclusive as the coverage cut to a closeup of the American team celebrating, making it impossible for viewers to compare the exact moment Apple climbed out.
However, Thorpe and his fellow commentators would have seen the whole thing from their commentary box and be better able to assess the situation.
The US proved its dominance in the 4x100m, having never lost the men’s medley relay at an Olympics Games.
Luke Greenbank, Adam Peaty, James Guy and Scott took silver, finishing 0.73 seconds behind the US, who finessed a world record time of three minutes and 26.78 seconds.
As a jubilant Apple (left) is helped out of the pool and starts to celebrate with teammates Ryan Murphy (right), Michael Andrew and Caeleb Dressel, the commentators question if the athlete has broken a long-standing rule
‘Thorpie I think you’re wondering had they all finished before Zach Apple got out of the pool,’ a commentator probes
Victory for the USA was a second win on Sunday for Caeleb Dressel after prevailing in the 50m freestyle earlier, capping a sensational Games for the 24-year-old, who has collected five golds in Japan and now has seven overall.
It comes as Australia won three gold medals hours in the space of two hours in a historic day for our athletes at the Tokyo Olympics.
Logan Martin made history as the first ever gold medallist in the freestyle BMX after the sport made its Olympic debut.
The young dad, 27, from the Gold Coast wowed viewers back home with an incredible display of tricks.
Earlier, Australia’s golden girls of the pool smashed records and lifted an entire country’s spirits with another amazing morning.
Logan Martin made history as the first ever gold medallist in the freestyle BMX after the sport made its Olympic debut
Emma McKeon won two gold medals in the space of 45 minutes to become Australia’s most successful Olympic athlete of all time
Emma McKeon won two gold medals in the space of 45 minutes to become Australia’s most successful Olympic athlete of all time.
The 27-year-old won the 50m freestyle in an Olympic record before claiming her fourth gold medal of the games in the 4x100m women’s medley.
Australia’s second gold of the day, and ninth of the Games, came after a blistering anchor leg from superstar Cate Campbell.
McKeon is now Australia’s most successful Olympian ever with 11 medals from two Games, including seven in Tokyo.
Australia also took home its 14th gold in sailing on Sunday, when Matt Wearn only needing to finished without a disqualification to confirm victory in the Laser class.