(Reuters) -Gretchen Walsh admits she struggles to understand the flak being directed at the U.S. team over their performance at the world championships in Singapore and said the swimmers have been competing under extremely difficult circumstances.
The U.S. team were hit by an outbreak of acute gastroenteritis during a training camp in Thailand just before the championships, with several swimmers travelling late to Singapore and other having to pull out of events.
On Friday, six-time Olympic champion Ryan Lochte shared an image on social media of a tombstone with the inscription: “In loving memory of United States Swimming. They set the bar high — until they stopped reaching for it.”
He also added a caption referencing the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, saying: “Call it a funeral or call it a fresh start. We’ve got 3 years.”
U.S. swimming great Michael Phelps then shared Lochte’s post and added: “Is this the wake-up call USA swimming needed?”
Asked about the criticism Walsh, who won the 50 metres butterfly title on Saturday to add to her 100 crown in Singapore, said she was trying to ignore it.
“I was made aware, and it’s frustrating, but I think that personally, I am just trying to block it out and take on the meet with everything I can and just show up and race like I know how…
“I think we’ve been dealing with a lot so it’s hard to get the criticism in the first place because I don’t think people quite understand the magnitude of everything going on behind the scenes.
“But showing up, giving my best, and coming out a world champion twice now has been everything, and I’m just happy to keep doing it and happy that I’m feeling like myself again in the water.”
The U.S. top the medal standings with eight golds, one ahead of rivals Australia with one final day of competition to come. The U.S. have won only one individual gold in the men’s events, Luca Urlando claiming the 200 butterfly title.
Jack Alexy, who was part of the team that won the mixed 4×100 mixed freestyle gold in a world record time on Saturday, said U.S. athletes were always held to the highest of standards.
“It’s definitely fuel to the fire for the next couple years,” added Alexy, who also has a silver and two bronze medals from his events in Singapore.
“And the theme going into this meet was setting off the tone right for LA 2028. So I think we’re continuing to do a better job at that, especially after tonight, and I’m really excited for the future.”
(Reporting by Aadi Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
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