- James Magnussen says Karl Stefanovic’s comments were disrespectful
- Stefanovic calls legend Michael Phelps ‘an absolute idiot’
- Magnussen says the Australian swimming team is also angry about it
Retired Olympic swimmer James Magnussen has shockingly criticised Today Show host Karl Stefanovic for trying to foment feud between the Australian and US swimming teams.
Stefanovic recently criticized swimming legend Michael Phelps during a televised match with Australian swimmer Cate Campbell, calling Phelps an “absolute idiot.”
Magnussen believes the inflammatory comments went too far and rubbed the Australian swimming team the wrong way.
“I can tell you from the deepest secrecy that they are furious about it,” Magnusson told co-host Matty Johns on the Matty and the Missile in Paris podcast.
“America doesn’t need any extra motivation for the Olympics. But most of all, Matty, it’s disrespectful.”
Campbell had also angered the US swimming team by calling them “sore losers”, but Magnussen believes Stefanovic escalated the war.
“You can imagine if we were sitting here in Australia and an American talk show analyst took Ian Thorpe to task, called him an asshole, told him to stop using the bongs, that he should stop watching swimming and go watch SpongeBob SquarePants, and that he’s a terrible presenter, has a bad haircut and basically looks like a dead animal,” Magnussen said.
‘Americans don’t know who Karl Stefanovic is. They don’t know the tone of voice he uses. They don’t understand the Today Show. They’ve never heard of Karl Stefanovic.
Olympian James Magnussen (pictured) believes Karl Stefanovic went too far with his comments about swimming legend Michael Phelps
Karl Stefanovic called Phelps an “absolute loser” in a June segment on the Today Show
‘All they know is that this man went on Australian television and completely ridiculed a sporting icon to a man who I consider to be the greatest athlete of all time.
“I’m a little biased because I come from the swimming world, but there’s something to be said about him being the greatest athlete of all time. He’s the greatest Olympian of all time.”
Stefanovic referenced a controversial 2009 photo in his Today Show segment of Phelps holding a marijuana pipe.
“Well, he’s angry that he doesn’t have a good haircut,” the TV presenter said.
“I also feel like he’s lost his personality. And they say that’s what excessive bucket bombing does to you.”
Stefanovic continued to attack the swimming legend.
Magnussen finds the inflammatory comments about Phelps (pictured) disrespectful
“Phelpsy just lost his personality, didn’t he? He just got soft or something,” he said.
“He’s boring and he’s retired. I want to say this to you, you have our full support. The country is behind you not to back down. We want you to move forward.
“I mean, Phelpsy probably won’t be watching swimming. He’ll probably be watching SpongeBob SquarePants at three in the morning. You know what I mean, instead of participating in all this.”
Magnussen said he doesn’t mind rivalry but found Stefanovic’s comments towards the swimming legend disrespectful.
“I’m all for creating a fuss and I’m all for joking around between athletes, as long as the athlete has to take responsibility for it,” Magnussen said.
‘So, for example, you know, in 2012 I had the famous line, ‘brace yourself,’ but guess who’s going to have to make that happen? I am. I’m the one who stands behind those words.
‘Coming off the sidelines, coming off the peaks and shooting an icon of the country. An icon of the sport, an icon of the Olympics.
“It just felt disrespectful and the way it happened was by calling him a jerk.
“That’s literal. Called him a jerk. That’s just not how you treat sports greats.”
“It’s not the way you treat people in general, but it’s certainly not the way you treat an Olympic legend.”