End of American exceptionalism in the Olympic pool

Taking Michael Phelps out of a swim team can change things. To find the last time the Americans went to an Olympics without him, you need to go all the way back to Atlanta, before we tumble-turned into the new millennium.

In the very next race, the finger-waggling, brash-talking, world record-breaking shield maiden of breaststroke, Lilly King, found herself relegated to the same, minor place on the podium. King was the Rio gold medallist, is the current world record holder and before arriving in Tokyo, had not been beaten in her pet event for five years.Lilly King after winning gold in Rio.Before these Games, King boldly predicted that American women could win every event.

“The American team in 2016 was about as good we are probably ever going to see again,” Forde said. “Between Phelps, Ledecky at her peak, guys like Ryan Murphy coming on and Lilly King coming on, five years later those people aren’t quite as good as they were. This is a young American women’s team and the men’s team is lacking that star power.

King and her squadmates, unable to access their university pool, resorted to training in a local reservoir. The Forde family also experienced it first hand. “College season was mess,” he said. So far in Tokyo, not one American swimmer currently in the college system has medalled in individual event.A third reason for America’s decline is Australia’s re-emergence. If not for our “Arnie,” Ledecky would have won the 400-metre freestyle and be hot favourite in the 200 metres.

Yes The Age. Bang on about poor ‘ol America

the irony of this article misusing the phrase “American exceptionalism”

Let’s not go poking the bear until after the Games are done 🐻 👈🏻

Great story

And why does this matter?

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